UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls
Police Announcement:
10/24/2022 - Suspicious Person
Dear Campus Community,
At approximately 12:30 p.m. today University Police was notified of a suspicious person on campus. The individual was described as a white male approximately 45 to 50 years of age, 5’9’’ to 5’10” tall, average built with white hair. The individual was wearing a long black sleeve athletic shirt, black shorts, grey baseball cap with sunglasses resting on the brim and flipflops. The individual was carrying a darker colored backpack. The individual would follow a student entering the westside dorms before the door closed (piggy backing). Once inside he would approach students asking them if they wanted a massage. University Police along with River Falls PD attempted to locate the individual with negative results. A still photo of the individual is displayed below. If you see this individual, please call 911, so University Police can contact him. If you have any information on the identity of this individual, you can contact University Police at 715-425-3133.
Safe Practices: Please be aware of your surroundings, walk in groups, let people know where you are going and the time you will be returning. Please do not allow individuals to follow you into the dorms by piggy backing. If this occurs, please contact University police, so we can address it.
Sincerely,
Chief Fleury
9/13/2019 - Phone Scam Alert
To All Students, Faculty and Staff:
We have been contacted by the River Falls Police Department that their phone number is being spoofed. The callers are targeting UWRF students and advising them that they have done a drug bust and their name has come up. The caller accuses them of smuggling drugs and advises that they will need to pay fine or bond to the police department. They may also ask for photos or other information. This is a scam, DO NOT give out any personal information over the phone or send any money.
Please be aware that the individuals doing these scams use different tactics such as saying you have a warrant that you need to take care of, or they may portray themselves as IRS agents, saying you owe taxes due to your financial aid. These all are variations of different scams.
As always, we Never contact people by phone demanding money, nor does the River Falls Police Department or other Law Enforcement agencies.
If you received one of these calls, it is not necessary to contact UWRF PD. You only need to call and file a report if you have lost money from this scam.
If you have questions or concerns you can contact UWRF PD at 715-425-3133.
Sincerely,
Chief Fleury
5/13/2019 - Phone Scam Alert
Several students have received scam calls from what appears as the University Police telephone number (715)425-3133. These scam calls are the result of caller ID fraud or "spoofing".
The fraudsters, while claiming to be from University Police, are using several different ruses attempting to scam the victims of money. Suspects are using ploys ranging from asking for money to telling the subjects they are under investigation or have outstanding fines or warrents.
Students are reminded that police, government agencies, etc. will NEVER call you and demand money. Please consider the following tips:
- If you receive a telephone call from someone telling you they are a police officer or other government employee, and they are demanding you send them money, do not engage with the caller. Immediately hang up.
- NEVER give bank account, credit card, or personal information to someone who calls you.
- If you feel threatened or unsafe, hang up and call 911.
- If you lost money because of this scam, call the UW-River Falls Police Department at (715) 425-3133.
- If you received one of these phone calls, it is not necessary to contact UWRF PD. You only need to call and file a report if you have lost money from this scam.
12/15/2017 *Update* - Regarding Campus Notification
Dear Campus Community,
I wanted to follow up with you in regards to the emergency alert notification that was distributed on Dec. 14. There is no danger to the campus community. Please be aware that the incident occurred off campus and remains under investigation by the River Falls Police Department. All individuals involved have been accounted for. Any additional information in regards to the investigation will be released by the River Falls Police Department.
As part of our campus notification system, we sent out an alert notice through our official channels outlining the situation once the facts had been determined.
If you have not signed up for Emergency Notifications or Alerts, please follow the link: https://www.uwrf.edu/Emergency/EmergencyNotifications/index.cfm.
To avoid confusion, official university statements will always be released on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/uwriverfalls.
The official press release from the River Falls Police Department can be read at: https://www.uwrf.edu/Police/
Sincerely,
Karl Fleury
Chief of Police
UWRF Police
715 Wild Rose Ave.
103 Regional Development Institute
River Falls, WI 54022
715-425-3331
Karl.fleury@uwrf.edu
12/15/2017 - River Falls Press Release
The River Falls Police Department continues to investigate a shot fired call outside a residence in the 600 block of S. Main St. On December 14, 2017 at approximately 8:30 p.m., a 9 1 1 caller reported being involved in a domestic argument with her son and accidentally discharging her handgun.
Officers arrived in moments and began investigating the incident. The discharged round was observed to have struck an unoccupied next-door business. We would like to assure the community that there is no threat to be concerned of at this time.
This incident continues to be under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the River Falls Police Department at 715-425-0909.
Gordon Young
Chief of Police
River Falls Police Department
125 East Elm St.
River Falls, WI 54022
(715) 425-0909
9/15/2017 - River Falls Phone Scam Alert
Several residents have called River Falls Police today after receiving calls asking for money, which appear to be coming from the RFPD non-emergency line.
These calls which appear on caller ID’s as (715)425-0909 are the result of caller ID fraud, or “spoofing,” and are not coming from RFPD’s 911 communications center.
The fraudsters, while claiming to be from the city, are using several different ruses attempting to scam the victims of money. Suspects are using ploys ranging from simply asking for money to telling the subjects they are under investigation or have outstanding fines.
If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, please hang up and call the River Falls Police at (715)425-0909.
Students are reminded that police, government agencies, etc. will NEVER call you and demand money. Please consider the following tips:
- If you receive a telephone call from someone telling you they are a police officer or other government employee, and they are demanding you send them money, do not engage with the caller. Immediately hang up.
- NEVER give bank account, credit card, or personal information to someone who calls you.
- If you feel threatened or unsafe, hang up and call 911.
- If you lost money because of this scam, call the UW-River Falls Police Department at (715) 425-3133.
- If you received one of these phone calls, it is not necessary to contact UWRF PD. You only need to call and file a report if you have lost money from this scam.
5/19/2017 - Crime Alert / Identification of Persons of Interest
Please help in identifying these individuals.
University Police is asking for your assistance in identifying the individuals responsible for theft and criminal damage to property of the University of Wisconsin – River Falls roundabout signs on Cascade Avenue intersecting at 2nd Street and 6th Street. The incidents occurred in the late evening/early morning hours on multiple occasions beginning in September 2016 through May 9th, 2017.
Below you will find photos of persons of interest. If you have any information please contact University Police at 715-425-3133 or police@uwrf.edu.
Campus Safety Alert 10/20/16
(Date Issued 10-20-16, 1:00 p.m.)
On September 29, 2014, UW-River Falls issued a safety alert referencing an anonymous written communication that contained an implied threat, which never materialized. On October 18, 2016, a new anonymous letter was received by the university, referring to that incident. This letter does not contain a specific threat to campus, nor is it targeting any specific group or individual, or any specific date.
The UW-River Falls Police Department is investigating this matter and we have no reason to believe that anyone on our campus is in danger.
As a university, Federal guidelines require us to issue warnings and alerts above what might otherwise be done for the general public, so we feel it is our responsibility to inform our campus community of this event. We simply ask that all remain aware of their surroundings and alert to any suspicious activity or persons. If you notice any suspicious or unusual behavior or activity, please call 911.
Sincerely,
Chief Karl Fleury
5/18/2015 - Click It or Ticket
NEWS RELEASE
From the Wisconsin DOT, Division of State Patrol,
Bureau of Transportation Safety
Date: May 18, 2015
For more information contact: Chief Karl Fleury 715-425-3133
UW River Falls Police Department to mobilize for Click It or Ticket safety belt enforcement from May 18 to 31
UWRF Police Department will mobilize along with hundreds of other law enforcement agencies throughout Wisconsin for the annual Click It or Ticket safety belt enforcement campaign from May 18 to 31.
"Our officers are serious about safety belt enforcement. We see far too many drivers and passengers needlessly killed or injured because they were unbuckled in a crash," says Chief Karl Fleury "During the Click It or Ticket mobilization and throughout the year, we will stringently enforce Wisconsin's safety belt law. We're not trying to write more tickets. Through enforcement and education, we're striving to get people to buckle up every time they drive or ride in a vehicle."
Although the state's safety belt use rate of 85 percent is the highest ever, more than half of the drivers and passengers killed in Wisconsin traffic crashes last year were not wearing safety belts. In addition, last year there were more than 55,000 convictions for failure to fasten a seat belt.
"No matter if it is day or night, or a short trip or a long journey, drivers and passengers must buckle up. Wearing a safety belt is the best possible protection against being ejected from a vehicle during a crash or thrown around violently inside it and possibly hitting another person in the vehicle with massive force," Chief Fleury says. "That's why Click It or Ticket is more than a slogan to our officers. It's a life-saving effort."
5/28/2015 - IRS Scam Alert
It appears that students, staff and faculty have become a target of this scam. The caller states the Police Department is coming to arrest them and tries to extort money or financial information. Callers report the scammer knows their name and e-mail address. The scammers are spoofing the City of River Falls Police Department so the caller ID will show the call coming from the police department. These calls are a scam. Please do not give out any of your information.
The following link will provide additional information in regards to the scam: http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-Reiterates-Warning-of-Pervasive-Telephone-Scam
Chief Fleury
10/10/2014 - *Updated* Campus Safety Alert
UW-River Falls received an anonymous written communication that included an implied threat. An initial safety alert was issued even though the threat did not specify or target any particular person, group, or location. The communication states, "Beware the Ides of October, the time is nigh and the bullets will fly." The Ides of October corresponds to October 15th.
The safety and security of the UW-River Falls campus community is our highest priority. There will be an increased law enforcement presence on or around campus for your overall safety. The UW-River Falls Police Department and its law enforcement partners continue to investigate this matter. If you have any information in regards to this case, please contact the UW-River Falls Police Department at 715-425-3133.
While authorities investigate, we do not anticipate any changes to scheduled classes and events. We do ask that students, staff, and faculty be alert to any suspicious activity or persons. If you notice any suspicious or unusual behavior or activity, call 911 immediately. You can also contact the UW-River Falls Police Department at 715-425-3133.
Further information will be provided on the UW-River Falls Police Department website (https://www.uwrf.edu/police) under Police Announcements when it becomes available. The UW-River Falls Police website also provides resources regarding personal safety. You are encouraged to familiarize yourself with the strategies outlined in these resources now and periodically in the future.
Those with questions or concerns regarding this matter should call 715-425-3936.
Karl Fleury UWRF
Chief of Police/Director of Protective Services
University Police
Police Announcements
