UW Police

Contact Us

  • Emergency: 9-1-1
    • Non-Emergency: 685.UWPD (8973)
    • Anonymous Tip-line: 206.685.TIPS (8477)
    • Business Office: 206.543.0507 (M-F, 8a-12p, 1p-4:45p)
    • Email: uwpolice@uw.edu  **note this account is not monitored 24-7. Call 911 for Emergency. **
    • Public Information Officer (PIO): 206.221.1967 or uwpdpio@uw.edu
    • Police Records Coordinator email: policerecords@uw.edu
    • Fax: 206.685.8042
  • Mailing Address
    • Street Address: 3939 15th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98105
    • Campus Box:  355200

    Directions
    From I-5: Take the 45th Street Exit. Go east to 15th Avenue NE. Turn south on 15th Avenue NE. Go about 1/2 mile. The station will be on your right. View Campus Map.

  • Comments/Concerns

    Have you seen a UWPD team member making a difference? Share your insight in person, by telephone or by contacting us via mail or email.

    Send your letter to:

    Chief of Police
    University of Washington Police Department
    3939 15th Ave. NE
    Box 355200
    Seattle, Washington 98105-6797

    What is a citizen’s complaint?

    The University of Washington Police Department looks at any allegation of wrongdoing or violation of policy or procedure very seriously.  There are two types of citizen’s complaints. The first is an informal complaint. Normally the employee’s immediate supervisor handles these complaints either over the telephone or in person.

    The second type of complaint is a formal complaint. A formal complaint is preferred in writing and may be lodged with any supervisor in the police department.

    We invite citizens to bring their concerns regarding police practices and services to our attention, however, anyone who alleges that a crime was committed and reports that to a police officer, knowing the report to be false, could be charged with a gross misdemeanor (RCW 9A.76.175).

    If you have a complaint and are not sure how to proceed, please call any on-duty supervisor at 206.685.UWPD (8973) or 206.543.0507, or email us at uwpolice@uw.edu.

What happens after I file a complaint?

The complaint is received, reviewed and assigned for investigation. If the complaint is informal and can be resolved by the immediate supervisor to your satisfaction, you will not need to do anything further.

If the allegations are of a serious nature, the supervisor can recommend that the complaint become formal. No complaint will be formally investigated until a supervisor contacts the complainant in person or by telephone to determine if a formal complaint is warranted. If the allegations are found to be true and a violation of policy and/or procedures, the complaint will be forwarded to the Major of Professional Standards & Training for a formal recommendation and then to the Chief of Police for a final determination. We will notify you in writing concerning the disposition of your complaint.

Will I have to testify if I make a complaint?

A complainant does not normally have to testify in any formal hearing. During the investigation, however, the UWPD will interview you and all witnesses concerning the incident to obtain relevant factual information.

What happens if I file a false criminal complaint?

We invite citizens to bring their concerns regarding police practices and services to our attention, however, anyone who alleges that a crime was committed and reports that to a police officer, knowing the report to be false, could be charged with a gross misdemeanor (RCW 9A.76.175).

If you have a complaint and are not sure how to proceed, please call any on-duty supervisor at 206.685.UWPD (8973) or 206.543.0507, or email us at uwpolice@uw.edu.