We are increasing our efforts and reviewing additional tactics to improve our recruitment and retainment efforts. However, it should be noted we will not lower the standards as there are issues for agencies that reduce their standards to increase our numbers.

Our goal is to hire qualified, professional and committed individuals to join the public safety team. Currently, the Department of Public Safety is being completely reorganized to improve effectiveness, efficiency, capability and competencies, and to streamline and enhance positions to best fit our current needs. We will not lower our standards to increase our numbers (or police force)—the stakes are too high to hire new candidates who are not a fit for Temple’s needs. We have posted, and will continue to post, 15 positions, some of which are completely new open positions to increase our capacity and impact to serve our community more effectively. One of the positions is a new director of personnel administration who will lead all efforts to recruit, hire, onboard and retain public safety human resources efforts.

We are also in the interviewing stage for a new director of communications and messaging position, who will be the first in-house communications specialist responsible for increasing messaging and transparency through numerous media platforms to reach our diverse stakeholders. Additionally, we have been posting job opportunities to hire lateral (currently certified) police officers to build upon Temple’s police officer ranks. Candidates who are not certified will need to go through the police academy prior to serving the Temple community. We are currently reviewing our salary and benefits package to ensure we are competitive to hire and retain police officers. 

The Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) and Temple University Police Department (TUPD) have a longstanding commitment and partnership to support one another and keep the community safe. As part of our ongoing efforts we had in place an agreement to provide supplemental patrols on nights and weekends. 

In mid-January 2023, the PPD and TUPD command staff met to discuss the current and future strategy behind the TUPD’s use of PPD supplemental patrols. There was a mutual recognition that, given the current staffing limitations at the time and the need to enhance operations plans, we would collaborate and reevaluate how to deploy resources in the most effective and efficient manner moving forward. The arrangement was temporarily paused while a new plan and strategy were put into place. Both departments continued to support one another on a daily basis. In fact, on the night of Sergeant Christopher Fitzgerald’s death, a TUPD sergeant utilized a PPD radio to call for assistance. At that time, Police Cpl. Theresa Brooks of Philadelphia’s 22nd Precinct, heard the call and responded immediately to the area and took into custody two pedestrians who were later linked back to the suspect.

While PPD and TUPD radio frequencies currently are incompatible, our departments coordinate and communicate through other channels, including shared PPD radios that were utilized the night of the tragedy. The TUPD Communications Center constantly monitors the PPD Computer Aided Dispatch Stream to inform officers and supervisors of any relevant information. On Saturday night, the call for backup was transmitted through dispatch. The collaboration, communication and cooperation remained, as both entities expected it would.

As we continue to work to keep our community safe, the PPD and TUPD have expanded and formalized our agreement to provide supplemental patrols and continued coordination and support, effective March 1. There is still much to be done, and we continue to work together to better and more effectively meet our community's needs and support our officers. 

Campus Safety Services employees will be off-site today to mourn the loss of Officer Fitzgerald. During this time, the Philadelphia Police Department has committed to helping to provide security coverage on campus and within the university patrol zones for Main Campus and the Health Sciences Center. All calls for assistance made to 215-204-1234 will be forwarded to and coordinated with the PPD. TUPD has dedicated liaisons with PPD assigned to respond during this time.

The TUPD Communications Center will remain fully staffed to take calls and dispatch support. Overall coverage and response times will remain the same. Additional Allied Universal security officers will also be on patrol for any walking escort requests and to support police.

Patrol boundaries are Susquehanna Avenue on the north to Jefferson Street on the south, with the exception of 13th to Broad Street, where the southern boundary is Girard Avenue.  

Main Campus patrol map 
Health Sciences Center patrol map  

State law sets limits as to Temple (and all college and university) Police’s jurisdiction, so it cannot be expanded beyond a set distance. Expanding the present patrol zone would divert resources and personnel from the areas that Temple currently serves. Temple University also has an MOU with the Philadelphia Police Department that has been agreed upon stating the specific jurisdictional boundaries as well as roles and responsibilities. This is customary practice for universities operating in Philadelphia. 

Temple continues to speak about these agreements and boundaries so that parents and students are aware. We encourage students to live within the current patrol zone boundaries. To make available more information about housing in the patrol zone, Temple launched the Best Nest Program, a collection of resources that can be used to help students and their families make informed off-campus housing decisions.