104 lines
4.9 KiB
Plaintext
104 lines
4.9 KiB
Plaintext
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May 1991
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POINT OF VIEW
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CAMPUS POLICE: A DIFFERENT VIEW
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By
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Gigi Ray
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Training Coordinator
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University of Texas
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Arlington Campus Police Department
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The many campus police departments around the country are
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made up of sworn officers with extensive basic and field
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training. They must meet the same requirements as other sworn
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officers in the State, and they must continue to meet the
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standards set forth by the governing law enforcement agency of
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their particular State (in Texas, that agency is the Texas
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Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and
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Education--TCLEOSE).
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Campus police officers deal with the same kinds of crimes
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that affect the community outside the campus' boundaries,
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including rape, robbery, and assault. And, as in municipal,
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county, or State law enforcement agencies, campus police
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departments interact with the public on a daily basis, 52 weeks
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a year, 7 days a week. Still, campus police officers are
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generally viewed in a different light than other officers. Why
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is this so?
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Primarily, the prevailing attitude is that "campus cops"
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are little more than security guards, concerned more with
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issuing parking citations than guarding against crime. This
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perception is not only unfair but it also does not reflect the
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increased attention to crime control necessitated by sharply
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rising crime rates on college campuses. While campus police
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departments confront serious criminal activity, and have primary
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responsibility for the safety of large populations, campus
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officers are often denied the respect afforded other officers,
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both within and outside the law enforcement community.
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CAMPUS POLICING
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Many campus communities are as large or larger than
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municipal communities. Most sprawl over several acres with
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academic buildings miles apart. In fact, a large college campus
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is very much like a city in itself, requiring a law enforcement
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presence far beyond the security guard stereotype.
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Like most campus departments, the University of Texas
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Police Department has an Operation, Administration, Service, and
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Investigation Bureau. Traditional police services, such as
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parking and traffic enforcement, fall within these categories.
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In addition, other services are also provided, including shuttle
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service for handicapped students and night escorts for students
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working late on campus.
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Officers are called on to handle domestic disputes and
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gang-related activities. They work traffic accidents, often
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involving injury, and they provide assistance to anyone working,
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visiting, or residing on campus.
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In place of reserve officers, the department recruits
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guards and public safety officers to assist with many
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non-criminal situations that arise on campus. These young men
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and women are usually students considering a future in law
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enforcement after college.
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Inservice training is an important part of any law
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enforcement agency's agenda, and campus police departments are
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no different. In order to provide daily access to training
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material, the University of Texas subscribes to the Law
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Enforcement Television Network (LETN)--the national satellite
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television network specifically developed for law enforcement
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agencies to use in training their officers.
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In addition, like most municipal departments, the
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University of Texas Police Department has a crime prevention
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officer, a research and planning coordinator, and a training
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coordinator. We continually strive to improve our department
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and further our ability to maintain a safe and peaceful learning
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atmosphere.
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CONCLUSION
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The modern college campus is not immune to criminal
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activity. In fact, serious crime problems affect many campuses
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across the country. Campus police departments are charged with
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protecting students, visitors, and faculty in an increasingly
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unsettled and violent environment. Still, although campus
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police officers must deal with crimes of almost every type,
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there is a reluctance to accept them as "real officers." In
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fact, one candidate for a position with our department recently
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admitted that he wanted to come to our department first before
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he "went out into the real world."
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It is becoming increasingly evident that with regard to
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crime, college campuses do possess all the elements of the real
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world. Those responsible for ensuring the safety of those on
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campus, then, should be afforded the same respect given to any
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law enforcement officer.
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