The Support Services Bureau of the Police Division is proud to offer various safety resources, education programs and events, as well as tips on how to stay safe in your homes, businesses and the community at large.
The Support Services Bureau is responsible for maintaining the division’s accredited status, is responsible for overseeing the Reserve and Auxiliary Programs, operates a six-hour temporary holding facility, and is responsible for receiving and processing all evidence as well as lost/recovered property.
Upper Arlington Officers Graduate from Leadership Academy
The Upper Arlington Police Division is proud of Lieutenant Jason Messer and Lieutenant Branden Staiger who successfully completed the Certified Law Enforcement Executive (CLEE) program. After 14 months of intensive…
Water Main Break Temporarily Closes Section of Reed Road
Columbus Public Utilities is on-site repairing a water main break in the 3900 block of Reed Road. As a result, Reed Road is closed in both directions between Lytham Road…
2024 Program Details
- 6-9 pm, Thursday evenings, September 5-November 14
- Participants must be able to attend each week
- APPLICATION DEADLINE: August 26
Any UA resident or business owner/leader over the age of 21 can apply for this free program.
If you have ever wondered how much fiction and how much reality plays into the various crime shows on TV, each fall the Police Division offers some insight for those residents selected to participate in the Citizen Police Academy. On Thursday evenings, participants (must be 21 years or above) go behind the scenes for a hands-on learning experience with local law enforcement.
Topics covered include:
- Crime scene investigations
- Police Division Structure and Community Relations
- Computer and Social Media crime investigations
- Legal Considerations and the Laws of arrest
- Use of Force and De-Escalation
- Firearms safety and training
- Patrol tactics and traffic stop practices
- Ride along with a police officer
Academy graduates can become part of the Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association, providing volunteer support to various Police Division activities and helping to raise community awareness on safety issues.
Complete an online application or download the form from the Resources & Links below.
Drug Abuse Resistance Education—or D.A.R.E.—is a preventive program aimed at equipping students with the tools needed to make informed decisions about alcohol, nicotine products and drugs.
The program is offered to elementary and middle school students in the Upper Arlington City Schools, as well as the private and parochial schools within the City.
The program includes topics about self-esteem, interpersonal and communication skills, decision-making and positive alternatives to drug use.
The division no longer accepts old or unused prescription drugs. The closest alternative is at the CVS pharmacy at Kingsdale.
DEA Drug Take Back Events
Each fall and spring, the Police Division takes part in national drug take back events coordinated by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). These events provide an easy way for residents to drop-off old and unused prescription drugs drive-thru style at the Municipal Services Center parking lot. Dates are posted on our event calendar and published in City newsletters.
Upon request, the Police Division can provide firearms safety programs for various groups, focusing on gun ownership topics and safety.
The division has free gun locks available to assist residents in keeping firearms secure and out of reach of children.
The Police Division provides firearms safety programs to various community groups. These programs focus on gun safety and ownership. In addition to these safety programs, the Police Division has partnered with Project Child Safe to provide a gun lock to anyone who would like one.
For more information on firearms related topics, or to request a gun lock, complete the email form below.
I Am Fine is a free, telephone check-in program for any resident that can save lives and help many maintain independent living in their own homes.
Call frequency is set by each participant, and once enrolled, a computer calls the number provided as scheduled. If everything is okay, the resident simply answers and hangs up the phone—the computer registers that the resident has answered.
If the resident does not answer, the computer calls a pre-established contact who has a key to the home (typically a relative or neighbor). The key holder is alerted that the resident has not responded and instructed to visit the home to check on the resident. Should the key holder fail to answer this call, police and paramedics are dispatched to the resident’s home.
If the resident does not have a “key holder,” other options are available.
I Am Fine is funded by the Senior Services Levy through the Franklin County Office on Aging, with the cooperative efforts of the City’s Police and Fire divisions, Upper Arlington Commission on Aging and the Upper Arlington Rotary Club.
For more information about I Am Fine or to join the program, call 614-583-5326 or visit uacoa.com.
Our Police Division will have officers making their usual patrols through neighborhoods and assisting children if they become lost or scared but they will not pass out candy this year. Check here for additional details and safety recommendations.
In typical years, each Beggars Night, the Police Division coordinates Pumpkin Patrol, sending out marked City vehicles with assistance from the Citizen Police Academy Alumni Group to patrol neighborhoods and assist children if they become lost or scared while trick-or-treating with their friends. The trucks have two-way radios to contact emergency personnel, and are also “equipped” with candy to pass out along the way.
Beggars Night is a community-wide activity, with the recommended event date established by the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) on behalf of Central Ohio communities. It is not organized by the City of Upper Arlington.
Parents are advised to use discretion when deciding if it is appropriate for their children to be out trick-or-treating based on inclement weather conditions.
Beggars Night Dates
The City observes Beggars Night on dates set by the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), for the hours of 6-8 pm:
- 2025 – Thursday, October 30
- 2026 – Thursday, October 29
Beggers Night Safety Tips
Tips for Parents
- Know where your child will be trick-or-treating
- Have them take a cell phone
- Avoid costumes that are flammable, obstruct vision or movement
- Supply your child with light colored clothing, something reflective or a flashlight
- Check candy before your child eats any. If you think it has been tampered with, notify Police
- Quiz your child on all the safety rules
Tips for Homeowners
- If you are planning to pass out candy, keep your home well lit
- If you aren’t home, keep the lights off so that kids don’t approach your property
- Keep your front yard, path and driveway clear of items that could trip young children
- Use battery-powered Halloween decorations, don’t use a real flame
Motorists should drive slowly through neighborhoods on Beggars Night and watch for groups of children in costumes.
Tips for Parents
- Know where your child will be trick-or-treating
- Have them take a cell phone
- Avoid costumes that are flammable, obstruct vision or movement
- Supply your child with light colored clothing, something reflective or a flashlight
- Check candy before your child eats any. If you think it has been tampered with, notify Police
- Quiz your child on all the safety rules
Tips for Homeowners
- If you are planning to pass out candy, keep your home well lit
- If you aren’t home, keep the lights off so that kids don’t approach your property
- Keep your front yard, path and driveway clear of items that could trip young children
- Use battery-powered Halloween decorations, don’t use a real flame
Motorists should drive slowly through neighborhoods on Beggars Night and watch for groups of children in costumes.
Safety Town is a summer preschool program held at a local elementary school that teaches children all aspects of child safety. Founded in 1971, approximately 400 children attend Safety Town each year, learning how to make wise decisions in potentially dangerous situations, and how to handle emergencies in their young lives. Students learn about pedestrian and traffic safety by tricycling about a miniature village, complete with streets, sidewalks, buildings, stop signs and a working traffic signal. Additional instruction is provided on fire prevention, school bus safety, poison/substance avoidance, animal safety, personal safety, and water safety.
Eight, half-day sessions of Safety Town are typically offered each June/July—9 am-Noon OR 1-4 pm, Monday through Friday. Children enjoy a graduation ceremony following completion of each session, and receive a Certificate of Achievement. To be eligible, children must be entering Kindergarten or first grade and be five years of age prior to September 30 of the program year.
2025 Session Dates
1st session: June 9-13
2nd session: June 223-27
3rd session July 7-11
4th session July 14-18
Resident Registration: 6 am, Wednesday, March 12
Non-Resident Registration: 6 am, Friday March 14
The program is taught by certified teachers in a classroom setting, while high school and college students supervise their activities in the miniature village. City safety specialists visit to provide demonstrations in their areas of expertise. The Police Division’s Community Relations Officer and D.A.R.E. Officer are onsite throughout the program.
If you have questions about the program, contact Police D.A.R.E. Officer, at 614-583-5196 or complete the email form below.
Registering for Safety Town
Safety Town registration is run through the Parks & Recreation Department. Program details, dates and pricing can be found in the Spring/Summer edition of the Activity Guide. Registration is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and classes fill quickly. If there is a specific session you wish to enroll your child in, it is advisable to register as soon as possible to receive priority placement.
If you have questions about registration, contact the Parks & Recreation Department, at 614-583-5300 or complete the Parks & Recreation contact form.
If you plan to be out of town for a period of time, you can notify the Police Division by completing the the Notice of Temporary Vacancy form below. Include your name, contact information, address, dates you will be away, and any emergency contact information (i.e., family member, friend or neighbor).
Secure Your Home Before You Leave
- Make sure your home looks lived in. Stop mail and cancel deliveries or ask a neighbor to make daily collections. Hide empty garbage cans. Leave shades and blinds in normal positions. Put an automatic timer on at least two lights.
- Leave a key with a trusted neighbor
- Store valuables in a safe deposit box
- Tell a trusted neighbor your departure and return dates. Supply an itinerary with phone numbers where you can be reached in an emergency.
- Lock all windows and doors
- Test your smoke and burglar alarms
- Background Check- for NON-Solicitors (PDF 636KB)
- Background Check- for Solicitors (PDF 95KB)
- Crash Report with Instructions (PDF Form 1MB)
- NCJ Privacy Rights
- Police Action Request Form (662 KB)
- School Bus Violation (PDF Form 703 KB)
- UAPD Ride-Along Application (PDF 469KB)
- UAPD Staff Organizational Chart (PDF 69 KB)
Police Division (1)
JUNE 2022 UPDATE: With the start of renovations to the Police Division offices at the Municipal Services Center, the Drug Collection Unit has been decommissioned and the division is no longer accepting old or unused prescription drugs. The closest alternative is at the CVS pharmacy at Kingsdale.
DEA Drug Take Back Events
Each fall and spring, the Police Division takes part in national drug take back events coordinated by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). These events provide an easy way for residents to drop-off old and unused prescription drugs drive-thru style at the Municipal Services Center parking lot. Dates are posted on our event calendar and published in City newsletters.
Visit the Police Support Services Bureau – Drug Disposal section of our website or call 614-583-5150 with questions.