The officers of UHPD are peace officers of the State of Texas whose primary jurisdiction is any county in which the University of Houston owns, leases, rents, or controls property.

51.203 which allows the University of Houston System Board of Regents to employ and commission peace officers.

Its headquarters are at 4051 Wheeler Street (changed from 3869 Wheeler Street in July 2015 in a campus address reorganization) at the southwest corner of the University of Houston campus in the Stadium District.

The current Chief of police is Ceaser Moore, Jr.[3][4] There has been one UHPD officer who has died in the line of duty.

On December 24, 2010, Officer Ann O'Donnell was killed in an auto accident while responding to a call for a kidnapping near Robertson Stadium.