The Community Services Division (CSD) plays a vital role in the University of Florida Police Department’s commitment to proactive policing, safety education, and meaningful community engagement. At UFPD, we understand that building strong, trusting relationships is essential to maintaining a safe and inclusive campus environment. The division was created specifically to foster those connections and to serve as a bridge between law enforcement and the university community.

Our team is dedicated to organizing, delivering, and promoting crime prevention programs, safety education, and outreach initiatives throughout the year. We work closely with students, faculty, and staff to provide customized safety presentations, support campus events, and respond to the evolving needs of our diverse university population.

Key responsibilities and initiatives include:

• Serving as liaisons to student groups, including student-athletes, Greek organizations, and other special interest communities
• Hosting and facilitating safety programs and crime prevention events across campus
• Coordinating educational outreach on topics such as personal safety, property protection, and active assailant response
• Managing community engagement campaigns to promote transparency and awareness

UFPD offers a two-hour introductory self-defense course designed to empower participants with practical safety skills. The course is called Gaining Understanding, Awareness, Response, and Defense, or G.U.A.R.D. This training covers risk reduction, personal awareness, UF rules and regulations on personal weapons, and basic self-defense techniques. While the program is primarily geared toward women, co-ed sessions are also available.

To learn more or schedule a training, contact UFPD Community Services Division at (352) 392-1409 or UPD-CSD@ad.ufl.edu. Individuals can register for a future course offering. For groups of 10 or more, UFPD can deliver the course at your building.

In addition, the division includes a full-time School Resource Officer (SRO) assigned to the P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School. The daily presence of this officer has helped strengthen safety, foster student trust, and improve relationships between law enforcement, parents, and school administrators.

We invite you to explore the many programs and services we offer. Whether you’re looking for safety tips, educational programming, or ways to get involved, the Community Services Division is here to support and empower the Gator community.