DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

  POLICE SERVICES


Public Safety Services

The Public Safety Department & Washington State University Vancouver provide the following services free of charge to all members of the Washington State University Vancouver community, employees, students, and visitors:

    • Escorts--anyone may contact a Public Safety Officer for an escort to their vehicle at any time.
    • Auto-lockouts--if you lock your keys in the car, a Public Safety Officer can assist you in gaining access.
    • Jump Starts--left your lights on? Battery dead? Public Safety can get your car started.
    • Police Services and Crime Prevention-- Need your valuables engraved? Need information on community resources available to assist you? Want to report an unsafe condition or suspicious circumstance? Have you been the victim of a crime? The Public Safety Department, a fully commissioned Police Department, is here to provide the necessary services, referrals, and information you need, investigate crimes occurring on campus, evaluate and correct unsafe conditions, and provide you with a safe environment in which to work and attend school. To report an emergency, crime, or suspicious circumstance, dial 911 from any campus phone. If you have any questions or need non emergency assistance or information, contact our office at 546-9001.


 Campus and Community Resources 

  • University Police: 546-9001 (Parking & Police Services)
  • 24-hour emergency: 911
  • On-call officer (pager): 690-1527 (Safety escorts, jump starts, unlocks)
  • Crisis Hot Line (24-hr): 696-9560
  • Parents Anonymous: (800) 932-4673
  • YWCA (24-hr): 695-0501 Woman’s Emergency Housing Sexual Assault Counseling Domestic Violence
  • CPS: 696-6678 (Children’s Protective Services) After hours: (800) 562-5624
  • Assoc. Students of WSU Vancouver 546-9520
  • The Bookie: 573-0447
  • Facilities Operations: 546-9000
  • Human Resources: 546-9587
  • Library: 546-9680 • Lost and Found: 546-9001
  • Parking Operations: 546-9001
  • Student Services: 546-9559
  • WSU Vancouver Counselor: 546-9446
  • Vancouver Campus Info: 546-9788

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Domestic Violence Victim Notification
Clark County, Washington

If you are the victim of Domestic Violence, you can ask the City or County Prosecuting Attorney to file a criminal complaint. You can also have the right to file a petition in Superior Court requesting an Order for Protection from domestic abuse that could include any of the following:

  1. Order restraining your abuser from further acts of abuse. 
  2. An Order directing your abuser to leave your household. 
  3. An Order preventing your abuser from entering your residence, school, business or place of employment. 
  4. An Order awarding you or the other parent custody of, or visitation with, your minor child or children; and 
  5. An Order restraining your abuser from molesting or interfering with minor children in your custody. 

The forms you need to obtain an Order for Protection are available at the Clark County Clerk's Office, ground floor, Courthouse, 1200 Franklin Street, Vancouver, WA 98668.

You Are Not Alone! 

If you are the victim of domestic violence you have a legal right to legal protection. Because of the different situations victims face, criminal prosecution is not always the answer... SOMETIMES IT IS NOT ENOUGH. For this reason, Washington State has created a civil action that victims can make use of. It is known as the Domestic Violence Protection Order.

Who can be protected? 

If you or your children are the victims of physical or sexual abuse, or threatened abuse, you can be protected under the Domestic Violence Protection Act. This applies if you are related to the abuser as a family member, are or were married, have ever lived together or have a child together. 

Where to go for help.

Go to the Superior Court Clerk's office to obtain a packet of forms necessary to file for a Protection Order. For help completing the forms, please call the YWCA at 696-0167. 

What will happen?  You fill out forms that ask (petition) the Court for a Temporary Order of Protection. In the forms the victim is called the "Petitioner" and the abuser is called the "Respondent." The forms ask for information such as the date of birth of the Respondent and a place to serve the Respondent with legal papers. 
The Judge reads the information on the papers and signs the Order if appropriate. The Court Clerk files the approved papers and gives you a certified copy.  

YOU WILL NEED TO ARRANGE TO HAVE THE RESPONDENT SERVED A COPY OF THE ORDER.

Obtaining an Order takes two steps: 

  • A Temporary Order for Protection is issued immediately at the time the Judge signs the forms. You will have protection until a Court hearing is held in about two weeks. 
  • In about two weeks, a full Order for Protection - lasting for one year - may be issued at a Court hearing. This would be after the Respondent was served with the Temporary Order and notice of the Court hearing. You must attend this hearing. 

AN ORDER FOR PROTECTION IS IMPORTANT!  It lets the Respondent and the Police know that you are serious in your determination to be safe. Violation of an Order is a crime. If the Respondent threatens or harms you, or comes to a place the Court has ordered him to stay away from, call 9-1-1.  

What does an Order for Protection do?  A Protection Order may allow law enforcement officers to arrest the Respondent if:

  • Respondent causes you or your minor children physical or sexual harm. 
  • Respondent molests, harasses or threatens you or your children. 
  • Respondent interferes with child custody. 
  • Respondent takes your children out of state. 

An Order may remove the Respondent from the family home...An Order CANNOT:

  • set or order child support 
  • assign property to either party 
  • establish permanent child custody 
  • grant permanent use of the family home 

The issues must be decided in separate court actions. Violation of the terms of the Order for Protection may result in the filing of criminal charges against the Respondent.

What will it cost?  The forms are free. Ask for the forms at the Superior Court Clerk's Office, ground floor of the Clark County Courthouse, 1200 Franklin Street, Vancouver, WA 98668. The filing fee is $20 (cash only). You may apply for a fee waiver by filing a financial disclosure.
The Respondent must be served with copies of the legal papers. The Sheriff (or anyone who is at least 18) must personally give (serve) a copy of the Protection Order to the Respondent. You cannot serve the order yourself.
You may change or end a Temporary or Permanent Protection Order if you go back to the Court. Until a Judge modifies (changes) or terminates (ends) your order, it will be enforced. 

How do you get a Protection Order in Clark County?

  • STEP 1: GET PROTECTION ORDER FORMS
    You may obtain free forms from the Superior Court Clerk in the Courthouse. Business hours are 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The telephone number is 699-2292. 
  • STEP 2: COMPLETE THE FORMS
  • STEP 3: JUDGE'S SIGNATURE
    Return to the Court Clerk's Office at 1 p.m. for Judge assignment. You will be told which Judge is signing Temporary Orders that day. File the signed forms with the Court Clerk.
  • STEP 4: RESPONDENT NOTIFIED
    The Respondent must be served with a copy of the Protection Order and a notice of hearing.
  • STEP 5: HEARING
    Protection Order hearings are on Wednesdays at 3 p.m. Your hearing will be about two weeks from the time the Judge signs the Temporary Order. PLEASE READ YOUR COURT PAPERS FOR THE EXACT DATE, TIME AND DEPARTMENT FOR YOUR HEARING.

NOTE: Criminal charges resulting from an arrest for Domestic Violence are heard in District Court Victim Witness (699-20008) had information on the criminal process.
 
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