Communication Center

The Communications Center is staffed by dedicated police dispatchers. They act as our first point of contact for callers and answer the 9-1-1 emergency telephone line. Additionally, police dispatchers coordinate communications between police officers and other support staff such as parking and community service officers. They are responsible for coordinating emergency response for both on-campus and off-campus resources, such as fire and medical services.

Emergency blue lights can be found around campus (see map).  In an emergency, press the button on the phone to speak to a 911 dispatcher.  

Sonoma State Police Department is excited to announce a new service on campus to better serve and protect our campus and community. “Text to 9-1-1,” is a service for faculty, staff, students, and community members who may be deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability, or who cannot safely call 9-1-1 in a dangerous situation. SSU will be implementing this service concurrently with our local partner agencies in the coming weeks with full implementation expected by September 30, 2020.

“Call if you can, text if you can’t” 

Dialing 9-1-1 in an emergency is still the preferred way to request help. Text to 9-1-1 emergency response requires a cell phone that has the capability to send text messages, and location services must be enabled. Currently, the texting service is only available in English, however, other language solutions are in development and will be implemented as soon as they become available.  Also, at this time, the system cannot receive photos and videos.

Tips on texting 9-1-1 in an emergency:

• In the first text message sent to 9-1-1, be sure to include clear information about the location of the emergency (including building or area and city), and the type of help needed (police, fire, or medical). Emergency personnel cannot always determine your location solely on location services information.
• Be prepared to answer questions and follow instructions from the 9-1-1 call taker.
• Text messages should be brief, easily understood, and should not contain abbreviations, emojis, or slang.
• Stay on the line until the dispatcher closes the dialog, if it is safe to do so.
• You cannot include 9-1-1 in a group text or while roaming.
• Don’t forget to silence your phone if you don’t want to be heard.
• Do not text and drive.

SSU joins many other local law enforcement and fire agencies equipped to receive Text to 9-1-1 texts including: California Highway Patrol Golden Gate Division, Cotati Police Department, Petaluma Police Department, Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety, Santa Rosa Police Department, Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, and many other local agencies. While our campus remains open but limited in activities, UPD reminds the campus community to “See something, say something” and dial 9-1-1 for emergency response anytime while on campus. 

The safety of community members is a priority of Sonoma State Police. The police department offers safety escorts to individuals who request safety assistance as they walk to and from on-campus locations during hours of darkness. Safety escorts may be available during daytime hours upon special request. The safety escort service is provided by trained Sonoma State Police employees. Safety escort services are free to our community members and can be arranged by calling Sonoma State Police at (707) 664-4444.

Sonoma State Police encourages community members to utilize personal safety escorts with the understanding that escorts cannot be arranged in advance. Personal safety escorts are not designed to be used in lieu of non-safety/security transportation needs. In most cases, safety escorts will be provided in a timely manner, unless delayed due to other urgent demands for Sonoma State Police.

To request a safety escort, please call (707) 664-4444.

Please note that the investigations tip line and email account are monitored during regular business hours. If you are reporting an emergency that requires immediate assistance, please dial 9-1-1. You may submit this tip anonymously. If you choose to provide your contact information, a member of the Sonoma State Police Department may reach out if more information is needed.

If you are the victim of a crime, please call the Sonoma State Police Department non-emergency number at (707) 664-4444 to speak with an officer who can assist you.