Wheaton College Public Safety works in close partnership with the Wheaton Police Department to protect our students.
Public Safety officers are non-sworn, but are authorized to make an arrest according to Illinois law. Pursuant to 725 ILCS 5/107-3, a Public Safety officer has authority to make an arrest if the officer “has reasonable grounds to believe that an offense other than an ordinance violation is being committed.” This includes any felony or misdemeanor committed in an officer’s presence. Persons committing these criminal violations on campus are taken into custody and given to the Wheaton city police for prosecution through the criminal justice system.
Wheaton College Public Safety maintains a close working relationship with the Wheaton Police Department. In case of an emergency that poses a threat to the safety and well-being of those on campus, the police are immediately notified and Public Safety plays a support role to their efforts. The Public Safety and Wheaton P.D. officers communicate regularly on the scene of incidents that occur in and around the campus area. There is no written memorandum of understanding between Wheaton College Public Safety and the Wheaton Police Department.
In the event of a crime that occurs on or near campus that constitutes an ongoing threat to the campus, a timely warning will be issued to the campus community. One or more of the following methods will be used: text messages and phone calls via Send Word Now; notices on the marquee signs; campus wide emails; live audio announcements through the college’s emergency speaker system.
Public Safety is responsible to see that all parking regulations are enforced on campus including the issuing of parking permits for all vehicles. We also enforce all parking regulations on campus property including issuing citations.
Public Safety, along with Risk Management, also facilitates Wheaton College’s compliance with all local, state, and federal laws which have a direct bearing on campus security.
Neighborhood Police Information
The city of Wheaton is protected by the Wheaton Police Department, comprised of more than 90 full-time employees who serve and protect the citizens of Wheaton. The department has 66 sworn officers, 19 civilian employees and a 11-member auxiliary unit.
The Police Department is organized into three divisions: Patrol, Investigation and Administration. Patrol and Investigation are led by a commander who reports to the Deputy Chief and Chief of Police. These three divisions provide effective and efficient law enforcement service to the citizens of Wheaton. The station is located at 900 W. Liberty Drive in downtown Wheaton.