SWBTS Police Department
Serving and protecting the seminary campus and the community
The mission of Southwestern Seminary Police Department is to serve and protect the campus community with professionalism, vigilance, and a servant’s heart. Dedicated and trustworthy at all times, we will continually strive to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God.
Contact Us
- 817-921-8888 (or 8888 from any campus phone)
- police@swbts.edu
The Southwestern Seminary Police Department is responsible for the safety and security of Southwestern Seminary and Texas Baptist College students, staff, faculty, and visitors. SWBTS Police Officers are sworn police officers commissioned through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE).
SWBTS Police Officers provide special services unique to our campus setting. The department operates 24/7, 365 days a year. Professional Dispatchers in the dispatch center monitor the campus by means of closed circuit television and other alarm monitoring systems. SWBTS Dispatchers are equipped to ensure the dispatch of police officers and/or other appropriate personnel in response to calls for service.
Report Concerning Behavior
Southwestern has a Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) in place to help all members of the Southwestern & Texas Baptist College community deal with any form of concerning behavior.
Concerning behavior may be most simply defined as any type of threatening or intimidating behavior which causes another person to be concerned for that person’s well-being or the well-being of another.
The goal of Southwestern’s BIT is to address concerning behavior utilizing a fact-based approach to assess and if necessary, implement an integrated plan of action. The BIT utilizes available resources to alleviate and/or mitigate any concerning behavior to the benefit of the individual and the entire Southwestern and Texas Baptist College community.
The BIT is comprised of the Associate Vice President for Human Resources, Dean of Students, Dean of Women, Chief of Campus Police, and Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services.
To report concerning behavior you may contact any of these individuals directly. You may also send an email to BIT@swbts.edu.
In an emergency, please call Campus Police directly at 817 921-8888.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding Southwestern’s BIT please do not hesitate to contact any of the listed team members.
Parking and Vehicle Services
In order to ensure the safety and security of our campus, all students, faculty, staff, and employees must register their vehicles with Parking and Vehicle Services.
NOTICE:
Due to an update to the Campus Police software, the campus parking permit system will experience a temporary shutdown starting July 1. During this transition period before the new system is in place, Campus Police will not be able to issue new permits.
Current parking permits are valid until July 31, but new permit sales will commence on August 1. A grace period will be implemented to facilitate the transition, ending August 30. Any questions regarding this update can be directed to the Campus Police Department.
Prepared Assist
Built by the company Prepared, Prepared Assist enables our 9-1-1 dispatch center to livestream, text, and translate texts (in 140+ languages) from mobile callers in real-time.
Participation in video during a call is completely voluntary and consent of the caller is required. If the caller consents, they will receive a livestream link via text from the dispatcher, enabling them to activate live video upon click. Texting can begin once the dispatcher sends you a text, at which point in time any text you send in reply to them can be automatically translated if it is one of the 140+ languages that the platform can process. Video call and text functions do not provide Campus Dispatch with access to the contents or settings of a caller’s phone.
RAVE Alert System
RAVE is the emergency notification system that the SWBTS Police uses to advise the SWBTS community about emergency situations, school closures, and other urgent information. All students and employees are automatically registered to receive information via text or email.
We highly recommend visitors, guests, and family members to register to receive alerts when you are on the SWBTS campus.
If you are a family member or parent of a currently enrolled SWBTS/TBC student please contact the student to add you to his or her account here.
If you are a conference/event guest or visitor and would like to get notifications while you are on the SWBTS campus please email police@swbts.edu with your contact information.
Severe Weather Resources and Emergency Procedures
Below you will find information regarding severe weather and SWBTS emergency procedures.
ID Cards
The SWBTS ID card is a student and employee ID card that remains valid during the term of registration. New ID cards will only be issued to students who are currently enrolled. The spouse and/or dependents 15 years old and over of a current student are eligible to obtain an ID card.
Each student must carry the ID card while on campus and present it when requesting services from any office.
To obtain a SWBTS ID card, students, employees, or family must come to the SWBTS Police Administration Building (located at 4540 James Ave) and present a valid form of ID with your legal name. ID card printing services are available Mon – Fri 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM (closed 12:30 - 1:00 PM for lunch).
For replacement cards or inquiries, email us at police@swbts.edu.
Citation Appeals
If you believe you have received a citation or fine in error, then please appeal the citation as soon as you are able.
Lost & Found
All Lost and Found items are to be turned in to the SWBTS Police Administration Building.
Items turned in will be kept for a ninety (90) day period after which they will be disposed of or repurposed for Police use according to Seminary policy.
An individual who is looking for an item that has been misplaced should contact the SWBTS Police Department through any of the following means:
- Go in person to the Police Information Desk located in the Police Administration Building.
- Email SWBTS Police at police@swbts.edu.
- Call the Police Information Desk at 817-923-1921.
Commendations
Everyone likes a pat on the back when they do a good job. SWBTS Police Department employees are no different. The SWBTS Police Department is eager to learn of instances where you feel an officer or civilian employee performed in an exemplary manner.
Commendations, like complaints, help the Department gauge overall customer satisfaction with our performance. We encourage you to share your opinions regarding SWBTS Police Department employees and the services provided to you.
You may submit a commendation by taking the time to complete the commendation form below and sending it to ccswbtspd@swbts.edu. You may also commend an employee by contacting any supervisory member of the police department either in person or by telephone at 817-921-8888. Your comments will be forwarded through the employee’s chain of command and be reviewed. After the review, a copy of your comments will be placed in the employee’s personnel file and the original document provided to the employee.
Complaints
The SWBTS Police Department is committed to providing exemplary customer service in a professional manner that ensures all citizens and visitors a safe and secure environment. Police personnel are carefully selected and given the best training possible in order to provide this service. Police officers have a difficult job to do. They are asked to exercise their best judgment under stressful, tense situations and often with limited information and time constraints. However, officers must also be courteous, professional and observe the rights of all citizens while performing their duties. If a citizen believes an officer or an employee has engaged in misconduct, they have the right to file a complaint.
It is the policy of the SWBTS Police Department to investigate all complaints against the department or its employees. This ensures the integrity of the department while protecting the rights and interests of both citizens and department employees.
When a citizen lodges a complaint against a member of the SWBTS Police Department, the complaint goes to the Supervisor on the Command Staff.
You may submit a complaint by completing the complaint form above and sending the form to ccswbtspd@swbts.edu.
You may also lodge a complaint with any supervisory member of the police department in person or by telephone.
TEXAS STATE LAW (Government Code 614.022) requires that all complaints against police officers be in writing and signed by the person making the complaint. Just as citizens who are arrested must be notified of the charges against them, police officers must be given copies of complaints before any disciplinary action may be taken. The person who claims to be aggrieved must make the complaint. Other persons may give statements as witnesses.
The Command Staff will conduct a thorough investigation of your complaint. The investigator will contact witnesses and officers and ask them to give statements. Records and other evidence will also be collected and examined. Unless special circumstances exist, you will be advised in writing of the outcome within 45 days from receipt of the complaint.
Traffic tickets issued or differences of opinion between police officers and citizens over the issuance of traffic tickets or for the guilt or innocence of persons arrested will not be investigated unless there is specific allegation of misconduct against a member(s) of the department.
False Complaints
People who intentionally make false complaints or allegations against police officers violate Chapter 37 of the Texas Penal Code. Texas law provides punishment for an individual adjudged guilty of committing an offense if, with intent to deceive and with knowledge of the statements meaning, he / she makes a false statement under oath or swears to the truth of a false statement previously made; and, the statement is required or authorized by law to be made under oath.
A person who commits an offense under this section can be charged with offenses ranging from a Class B Misdemeanor to a Felony of the Third Degree. Punishments can range from confinement of 180 days in jail to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine not to exceed $10,000.
This information is not intended to intimidate the complainant or any witness, but is provided to avoid retaliation against police officers or departmental staff.
What happens when a complaint is found to be true? When the investigation of a complaint reveals that the charges are true, and should be sustained against a police employee, the Chief of Police or his designee notifies the employee and may take one of the following actions, depending on the nature of the violation:
- Counsel the employee
- Provide in-service training to the employee
- Reprimand the employee
- Transfer the employee
- Suspend the employee without pay
- Demote the employee
- Terminate the employee
- The complainant will be notified in writing of the investigation’s results.
What happens if the complaint is found to be not true or yields insufficient information to prove or disprove the allegation of misconduct?
Police employees must be afforded certain rights the same as with all citizens and complaints must be supported by sufficient evidence. If there is not sufficient evidence to sustain the complaint, the officer is notified and continues on duty. If he was removed from duty during the investigation, the employee will be paid for that period. The complainant will be notified in writing of the investigation’s results.
Can an employee appeal the decision?
Just as citizens charged with criminal offenses can appeal a court’s decision, police employees are afforded the right to appeal the actions taken against them. The SWBTS Police and Southwestern Seminary has established procedures for employees to follow in their appeals, just as the police department has established procedures for ensuring that complaints by citizens against police employees are thoroughly and impartially investigated.
Conclusion
- The SWBTS Police Department is vitally interested in the welfare of all citizens and visitors, in establishing the facts regarding any reported incident, and in taking action where its employees have proven derelict in their duties or are guilty of wrongdoing. If it becomes necessary for you to make a complaint, you can be assured that it will be given a fair and thorough investigation.
- The SWBTS Police Department is composed of professionals dedicated to serving you.
Texas Government Code
- Complaints Against Law Enforcement Officers
- Sec. 614.022. Complaint to be in Writing and Signed by Complainant. To be considered by the head of a state agency or by the head of a fire or police department, the complaint must be: (1) in writing; 2 signed by the person making the complaint. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993. Sec. 614.023. Copy of Complaint to be Given to Officer or Employee. (a) A copy of a signed complaint against a law enforcement officer, fire fighter, or police officer shall be given to the officer or employee within a reasonable time after the complaint is filed. (b) Disciplinary action may not be taken against the officer or employee unless a copy of the signed complaint is given to the officer or employee. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.
Open Records Request
In accordance with the Texas Public Information Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 552, Section 552.010 provides rights for the public to access governmental records unless those records are considered confidential by law.
To obtain SWBTS police offense report records or accident reports, please complete an open records request form and submit to: openrecordsrequest@swbts.edu.
Once the form is received by the custodian or records, you will be provided a tracking number. Your request will be processed and you will be notified of the status of your request.
For more information, please visit the Office of the Attorney General for information on the Public Information Act and the exceptions to public access.
Open Records Requests are processed in a timely fashion in accordance with the Texas Public Information Act.
Resources
We are here to keep our faculty, staff, students, and employees safe and protected, so don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns regarding campus safety.
Contact Us
817-921-8888 (or 8888 from any campus phone)
police@swbts.edu