University Police officers are not only trained to prevent crime, but also to assist those in need of medical assistance.

Every officer currently working for the department is a certified emergency medical technician (EMT), which is a rarity among other departments, said UP chief Donald Grady.

“We currently have 39 officers, and every single one of them is certified,” Grady said.

The DeKalb Police Department has two certified EMTs, while the Sycamore police department has one, according to figures provided by the respective departments.

UP officers have been trained as EMTs for the last five years under Grady’s supervision, he said. In one year, 20,000 hours have been invested in training altogether, Grady said.

Officers are also trained in other areas, including dealing with hazardous materials – such as incidents involving chemical spills – and critical response. The purpose of this type of training is to coach officers on how to react in the case of natural disasters and terrorist threats.

Grady is more concerned with preventing crimes than with apprehending criminals after the fact, he said.

“Our job is to make sure a crime is not committed,” Grady said. “And to do so, our staff is always thinking of ways to increase crime prevention on campus.”