About Us
CU Boulder's Division of Public Safety is made up of approximately 85 pubic safety professionals dedicated to enhancing campus safety by strengthening existing partnerships, sharing safety information and resources and focusing on identifying, assessing and mitigating public safety risks.
DPS includes the CU Boulder Police Department, with approximately 40 commissioned officers (15% of whom are women) and approximately 30 professional staff, as well as Events & Emergency Management, Threat Assessment, Flight Operations and Security Services.
Marlon Lynch is the Vice Chancellor for Public Safety and leads CU Boulder’s Division of Public Safety. Lynch’s career progression includes 30 years of police and public safety experience in the municipal and public and private campus environments to include health systems.
He received a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University and earned a master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Boston University. He is also a graduate of the 216th Session of the FBI National Academy and the 256th Class of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff & Command.
He is an accomplished police and public safety professional who currently serves as the Chairperson and Commissioner for the Commissioned Agency on Law Enforcement Accreditation (CALEA) and is a past president of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA).
Read more about Lynch's background and selection.
CU Connections: Five questions for Marlon Lynch
Division of Public Safety includes the following departments:
The University of Colorado Boulder Police Department (CUPD) is a full-service, nationally accredited police agency providing community-based public safety services to a diverse community of approximately 38,000 students and 12,000 faculty and staff members 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year long. Every year the department responds to approximately 20,000 calls for service.
The primary function of Events & Emergency Management is to provide the planning and coordination of mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery of natural and man-made disasters occurring on or near the campuses of CU Boulder. EEM collaborates with Police, Academics, Student Government, Facilities Management, Athletics and local public safety agencies.
Flight Operations supports global unmanned aircraft systems (drone) flight operations, ensuring safety and compliance. The departments responsibilities include coordinating and receiving approval for operations from the Federal Aviation Administration and foreign governments. We train CU crew-members for complex UAS operations including initial and advanced pilot training.
The Department of Security Services is committed to ensuring the safety, security and well-being of the CU Boulder community through the latest technology, skilled personnel and strong partnerships with campus stakeholders. Our efforts are aligned with the broader mission of the Division of Public Safety, which emphasizes integrity, innovation and operational excellence.
The Department of Threat Assessment ensures continuous monitoring and mitigation, provides consultation and intervention methods and maintains a comprehensive documentation repository for any instances of threatening or concerning behavior exhibited by faculty, staff or nonaffiliates to safeguard the well-being of our entire campus community and ensure a secure and supportive environment for all.