A Message From Chief Mary E. Paradis

The University of Mississippi Medical Center Police and Public Safety Department (UMMC PD) is your professional, full-service law enforcement agency providing police and security services on campus 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The dedicated men and women of the UMMC PD are committed to working with our UMMC partners to provide a safe and secure environment for them to receive health care, work and learn.

As a law enforcement agency at an institution of higher learning, UMMC PD is expected to meet the crime statistics reporting requirements of the Jeanne Clery Act and publish an Annual Security Report (ASR). The ASR will always include statistics from the previous three (3) years, so this year’s report will reflect 2019, 2020, and 2021. Each October 1st, the ASR will be made available for everyone to review both on our website and at our headquarters located at The Alumni House on the main UMMC campus in Jackson. We encourage you to review the report and if you have any questions, reach out to my office.

Of course, no conversation about safety in 2022 is complete without mentioning the recent random acts of gun violence on school campuses. In addition to strong partnerships with other local and federal law enforcement agencies, UMMC PD collaborates internally with our UMMC partners in higher education, healthcare and research to enhance safety on our campuses. UMMC PD has personnel trained to conduct threat assessments, conduct civilian training for active shooter scenarios, and regularly engages in multidisciplinary behavioral response efforts in our community. Members of the UMMC PD have played a significant role in these initiatives, and we appreciate their continued support and contributions.

For more information on how we strive to keep the UMMC community safe, I encourage you to visit the website to find a collection of safety information and resources. Proactive prevention methods are proven to deter criminal activity. We ask each of you to remain vigilant and to please do your part to keep UMMC safe by reporting any suspicious or unlawful behavior immediately to UMMC PD at 601-815-3072. Safety is everyone's responsibility, “if you see something, say something”.

Creating a campus environment that is safe, respectful, civil and supportive for all students, faculty, staff, patients, and visitors requires effort. I hope you will join me in working toward creating a safe and inclusive UMMC community. Thank you for taking the time to read this message and report. I am proud of many of the initiatives we have started in my first year as Chief of Police and look forward to where the future brings us.

Sincerely,

Mary Eileen Paradis
Chief of Police and Executive Director of Public Safety
University of Mississippi Medical Center