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Gator Guard

The University of Houston Downtown Police Department is committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for its students, staff, and community members. The department’s Gator Guard Team exists to identify, assess, prevent, and manage acts of targeted violence by employing a proactive, objective, multidisciplinary, evidence-based approach. Gator Guard also seeks to identify and offer available resources for everyone involved or impacted.

The campus community is responsible for actively participating in the recognition of concerning and threatening behaviors, and for reporting such behaviors to the Gator Guard Team. The information provided below can help guide you to identify observable behaviors or circumstances that indicate someone needs assistance, is at risk of disrupting the educational environment of others or may pose a risk of violence.

It is not always possible to know the significance of any single behavior taken out of context, therefore it is important not to dismiss something of concern, but rather report it. While any one of the behaviors alone are not sufficient to draw a conclusion, these behaviors, especially when they occur in combination with other behaviors, can indicate a need for further analysis and that the individual may need help.

The University of Houston Downtown Police Department is committed to protecting life and maintaining a secure learning and working environment. The BTMT, under the leadership of UHDPD, applies law enforcement expertise in collaboration with campus partners to assess behaviors of concern, coordinate interventions, and prevent acts of violence through intelligence-led, evidence-based practices.

 Key Responsibilities:

  • Threat Identification: Collect, monitor, and evaluate reports of potentially threatening behavior.
  • Threat Assessment: Lead structured threat assessments using validated tools (e.g., WAVR-21, SIVRA-35) and law enforcement intelligence.
  • Threat Management: Develop and implement intervention strategies that may involve legal enforcement action, safety planning, or administrative measures.
  • Monitoring: Assign follow-up responsibility to ensure compliance and reevaluation of risk levels.
  • Information Sharing: Facilitate timely, confidential, and legally compliant interagency communication.
  • Training: Conduct and attend law enforcement-specific and multidisciplinary threat assessment training.

How To Submit a Report

There are four primary ways to report threats and/or concerning behavior:

  1. File a report online through our Online Reporting Form 
  2. Email UHDPD @ UHDPolice@uhd.edu
  3. SafeZone App - See it? Say it? Reporting function – You can find more information on it here 
  4. For imminent threats and emergencies, call the 24-hour UHD Police Dispatch line at 713-221-8911 or dial 8911 from any campus phone

Your report will be reviewed by the UHDPD Behavioral Threat Assessment Unit. When filing a report, be sure to include all relevant information pertaining to the individual’s concerning behavior. Provide a detailed description of the incident or concerning behavior, using language that is specific, concise, and objective. If there are relevant documents to include, upload them with the report.

Helpful Resources

Students

Faculty and Staff

Community Members

  • The Helpline for Harris County residents: 713-970-7000 or 1-866-970-4770
  • The 24-Hour Crisis Line for Montgomery, Liberty, and Walker County residents: 1-800-659-6994
  • National Suicide Hotline: 9-8-8
  • Domestic Violence Support: 713-528-2121
  • Sexual Assault Hotline: 713-528-7273
  • Houston Hope Line: 832-831-7337
  • NAMI Houston Warm Line: 713-970-4483
  • Shelters, Cooling/Warming Centers, Rent Assistance, Utility Assistance: 2-1-1
  • Houston Food Bank - Food Pantries: 832-369-9390