This story is adapted from UIPD’s 2017 Year in Review. URBANA, Ill. — As political demonstrations are becoming larger and more frequent on college campuses across the country, the University of Illinois Police Department’s approach to addressing those demonstrations has evolved. Lt. John Brown says UIPD has made changes over the past several years to the way it addresses what police now call “First Amendment gatherings.” The focus has shifted from controlling crowds to facilitating individuals’ right to express themselves in a safe manner. “The previous policy was based on attitudes from 20 years ago,” Brown said. “Those have changed.” But [...]

https://youtu.be/ZXurv90LfEI If this video does not load, click here to play in YouTube. Police agencies in Champaign County cooperate to make sure large venues are free of explosive hazards in advance of events. Here, U. of I. Police Officer Troy Chew with K-9 Zuri and Champaign County Sheriff's Office Deputy Zachary White with K-9 Leo complete a routine sweep of State Farm Center before the night's Fighting Illini basketball game.

The enforcement effort is a response to the increased frequency of vehicles using center turn lanes or the middle of the roadway as a quick parking option. The issue has been particularly visible on Green Street in the Campustown area, although officers will be keeping an eye out for violators throughout the city.

URBANA — The University of Illinois Police Department is looking for people who want to serve their community and help to keep our campus and surrounding area safe. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is now accepting applications for entry-level police officer testing consideration. Applicants must be 21 years of age upon employment, have a high school diploma or GED, have no felony convictions, and have a valid Driver's License. As a police officer at one of the nation's preeminent public universities, you will be working in a vibrant, micro-urban community with a great variety of culture, recreation, and entertainment opportunities — [...]

URBANA – Longtime police officer Matt Myrick will take the reins on Jan. 1 as the interim police chief at the University of Illinois Police Department while a search for a permanent department head will gear up in the coming months. The department’s interim chief is an experienced public servant who has become intimately familiar with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign during his 22 years at UIPD. He will take over for Chief Jeff Christensen, who retires at the end of the year concluding a 32-year run at UIPD. Myrick, who has been the department’s deputy chief since 2016, [...]