
The Public Safety Community Advisory Committee assists the Department of Public Safety in providing fair, just and unbiased services to the Princeton University community. Formed in Fall 2020, the committee has student, faculty and staff representatives who meet regularly. The committee is part of the DPS philosophy of “Community Caretaking,” in which the focus is service to the community.
Committee Goals
- Providing advice and feedback on policies, programs, initiatives, data collection, and other aspects of the ways that DPS’ carries out its community caretaking mission.
- Enhancing communication between the community and the department.
- Providing an annual report to the University’s executive vice president and to the assistant vice president for Public Safety.
- Recommending new policies and programs, in light of community needs, transparency and best practices in the profession.
- Assisting DPS in understanding the safety and security needs and concerns of the campus community.
- Reviewing the original charge of the committee and suggest any additional areas of focus.
Committee Membership
The committee consists of twelve members, three representatives each from among faculty, University staff, undergraduate students and graduate students. Three members of the Department of Public Safety will staff the committee.
Inaugural co-chairs are Laurence Ralph, a professor of anthropology who has focused his research on police violence against Black and Brown people, and LaTanya Buck, dean for diversity and inclusion in the Office of the Vice President for Campus Life.
Faculty and staff members of the committee are appointed to three-year terms. Students are appointed to two-year terms.
Contacting the Committee
Members of the community who wish to contact the committee should send email to PSAFECommittee@princeton.edu.
The DPS website contains information and forms to file a complaint against an officer (including anonymously), to compliment an officer, to review data about Internal Affairs Investigations, as well as Clery crime and fire data.
Committee News
Public Safety convenes advisory committee as part of University-wide call to address systemic racism, Daily Princetonian, Oct. 25, 2020
Ominsky op-ed: DPS works to build on its ‘Community Caretaking’ philosophy, Daily Princetonian, Oct. 15, 2020
'Community Caretaking' With DPS, Princeton Weekly Bulletin, October 28,2020