USC Department of Public Safety

DPS Officers on and off campus, Monday, August 17, 2015.(USC Photo/Gus Ruelas)

The USC Department of Public Safety (DPS) is one of the largest campus public safety departments in the United States employing 346 full-time personnel and 30 part-time student workers. Under the leadership of Chief John Thomas, the department’s primary mission is to provide a safe and secure environment on campus and in the local USC community that allows students, faculty, staff and campus visitors to realize their academic and social pursuits. The department offers a variety of quality public safety services and educational programs administered through the utilization of highly trained personnel, state-of-the-art technology, and a community-based policing philosophy.