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Campus police: different badges, different uniforms, but same deadly force Campus police: different badges, different uniforms, but same deadly force
(about 1 hour later)
The uniforms are different. The badges are different. The bosses are different. Aside from that, the police who patrol the University of Cincinnati’s campus are empowered with virtually the same powers as sworn city police officers.The uniforms are different. The badges are different. The bosses are different. Aside from that, the police who patrol the University of Cincinnati’s campus are empowered with virtually the same powers as sworn city police officers.
But on Wednesday, Hamilton county prosecutor Joseph Deters sought to draw a distinction. But on Wednesday, Hamilton County prosecutor Joseph Deters sought to draw a distinction.
“They’re not cops,” Deters said of the UC police force, during a press conference to announce that officer Ray Tensing, who fatally shot 43-year-old Samuel DuBose during a routine traffic stop and was later fired over the incident, had been indicted for murder.“They’re not cops,” Deters said of the UC police force, during a press conference to announce that officer Ray Tensing, who fatally shot 43-year-old Samuel DuBose during a routine traffic stop and was later fired over the incident, had been indicted for murder.
Deters continued, saying that the university should disband its police force in light of what happened and suggesting that city police patrol the campus instead.Deters continued, saying that the university should disband its police force in light of what happened and suggesting that city police patrol the campus instead.
But campus police officers reject the characterization, especially as their powers continue to grow, making them more and more like municipal departments.But campus police officers reject the characterization, especially as their powers continue to grow, making them more and more like municipal departments.
“If the prosecutor indicated that [Tensing] was not a police officer, then I’m sorry to say that the prosecutor was dead wrong,” said Lt Charles Wilson of the Rhode Island campus police department, who writes academically about public perceptions of campus police offices.“If the prosecutor indicated that [Tensing] was not a police officer, then I’m sorry to say that the prosecutor was dead wrong,” said Lt Charles Wilson of the Rhode Island campus police department, who writes academically about public perceptions of campus police offices.
All police officers, regardless of the department they serve, must meet the same basic standards to be licensed or certified by the state, though some critics say campus police participate in separate and shorter training. As such, campus police are granted the same statutory powers to arrest civilians and the officers are almost always armed, Wilson said.All police officers, regardless of the department they serve, must meet the same basic standards to be licensed or certified by the state, though some critics say campus police participate in separate and shorter training. As such, campus police are granted the same statutory powers to arrest civilians and the officers are almost always armed, Wilson said.
The vast majority of universities operate their own law enforcement agencies, and campuses without one rely primarily on private security firms or local law enforcement agencies, according to Bureau of Justice Statistics data from 2011-12, the most recent available.The vast majority of universities operate their own law enforcement agencies, and campuses without one rely primarily on private security firms or local law enforcement agencies, according to Bureau of Justice Statistics data from 2011-12, the most recent available.
Ninety-two percent of public institutions used sworn officers, compared to 38% of private campuses, and nearly all sworn campus police officers were armed, according to the data.Ninety-two percent of public institutions used sworn officers, compared to 38% of private campuses, and nearly all sworn campus police officers were armed, according to the data.
Rhode Island recently agreed to arm its campus police officers, the last state in the nation to do so. During the debate, some groups opposed the move, arguing that guns were unnecessary, especially considering the nature of crimes committed on campus.Rhode Island recently agreed to arm its campus police officers, the last state in the nation to do so. During the debate, some groups opposed the move, arguing that guns were unnecessary, especially considering the nature of crimes committed on campus.
“The worst crime that’s ever done here is people smoke marijuana,” Frank Annunziato, executive director of the URI chapter of the faculty union American Association of University Professors, told NBC news at the time. “This is a happy place. It’s not a place where guns are necessary.” “The worst crime that’s ever done here is people smoke marijuana,” Frank Annunziato, executive director of the URI chapter of the faculty union American Association of University Professors, told NBC News at the time. “This is a happy place. It’s not a place where guns are necessary.”
In Cincinnati, campus police ultimately report to the university’s governing board, which Deters suggested was not a responsibility it was designed to handle.In Cincinnati, campus police ultimately report to the university’s governing board, which Deters suggested was not a responsibility it was designed to handle.
“The university does a great job educating people ... that should be their job, being police officers should not be their role,” Deters said.“The university does a great job educating people ... that should be their job, being police officers should not be their role,” Deters said.
University officials did not respond directly to the remarks. In a statement, University of Cincinnati president, Santa J Ono, said the university would “take necessary steps to address any training, staffing and hiring policy issues that may be indicated by this tragic event”.University officials did not respond directly to the remarks. In a statement, University of Cincinnati president, Santa J Ono, said the university would “take necessary steps to address any training, staffing and hiring policy issues that may be indicated by this tragic event”.
The need for campus policing arose during the late 1960s and early 1970s, when student-activists held massive civil rights and anti-war demonstrations. Images of clashes between police and students would come to define the era, none more so than the massacre at Kent State University, when Ohio national guardsmen opened fire on the crowd, killing four students.The need for campus policing arose during the late 1960s and early 1970s, when student-activists held massive civil rights and anti-war demonstrations. Images of clashes between police and students would come to define the era, none more so than the massacre at Kent State University, when Ohio national guardsmen opened fire on the crowd, killing four students.
“That prompted a lot of institutions to start police departments, so that they had people on campus who were more attuned with their community and have a better understanding with the community so that the kinds of things that started during the demonstrations wouldn’t happen again,” said Bill Taylor, president of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators and the chief of police at San Jacinto College in Pasadena, Texas.“That prompted a lot of institutions to start police departments, so that they had people on campus who were more attuned with their community and have a better understanding with the community so that the kinds of things that started during the demonstrations wouldn’t happen again,” said Bill Taylor, president of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators and the chief of police at San Jacinto College in Pasadena, Texas.
Taylor said campus forces effectively initiated the community policing model that so many cities are now promoting as a string of police killings have thrown into sharp relief the strained relations between law enforcement and minority communities.Taylor said campus forces effectively initiated the community policing model that so many cities are now promoting as a string of police killings have thrown into sharp relief the strained relations between law enforcement and minority communities.
“Campus officers are expected to be more interactive with their community, more responsive to the needs of the community,” Taylor said. “We specifically look for people who don’t have short fuses. In light of what’s happened that may sound quite different than what’s been depicted.”“Campus officers are expected to be more interactive with their community, more responsive to the needs of the community,” Taylor said. “We specifically look for people who don’t have short fuses. In light of what’s happened that may sound quite different than what’s been depicted.”
Several University of Cincinnati students told the Guardian that they perceived the campus police as having less authority that their off-campus counterparts, though others stressed that the force kept campus safer.Several University of Cincinnati students told the Guardian that they perceived the campus police as having less authority that their off-campus counterparts, though others stressed that the force kept campus safer.
David Sanders, a UC alumni, said he has observed two “drastically different” campuses over the past decade.David Sanders, a UC alumni, said he has observed two “drastically different” campuses over the past decade.
“Police presence has been a lot heavier over the last four or five years – city and campus,” he said. “It’s become a lot safer place to be, you don’t hear about as many robberies, as many muggings.“Police presence has been a lot heavier over the last four or five years – city and campus,” he said. “It’s become a lot safer place to be, you don’t hear about as many robberies, as many muggings.
“But also, when I was a student, especially early on, we always called the UC police the ‘toy police’, because you never felt like they ever actually did anything. They were just there, showing up.”“But also, when I was a student, especially early on, we always called the UC police the ‘toy police’, because you never felt like they ever actually did anything. They were just there, showing up.”
Steven Gayada, a biology major, said he has witnessed officers pull over large groups of students for trivial issues like jaywalking.Steven Gayada, a biology major, said he has witnessed officers pull over large groups of students for trivial issues like jaywalking.
“That’s kind of a common thing you hear people talking about,” he told the Guardian. From personal experience, he said, “most of my experience has been they just really don’t do much. They just circle around and sit on campus.”“That’s kind of a common thing you hear people talking about,” he told the Guardian. From personal experience, he said, “most of my experience has been they just really don’t do much. They just circle around and sit on campus.”
For recent graduate Abdine Louis, he said his view of UC police is “two-tiered”.For recent graduate Abdine Louis, he said his view of UC police is “two-tiered”.
“On one side, I believe the UC police do a fair job in keeping the campus safe, in making sure that the needs of the students with regards to safety are brought to the forefront,” Louis said.“On one side, I believe the UC police do a fair job in keeping the campus safe, in making sure that the needs of the students with regards to safety are brought to the forefront,” Louis said.
“But on the other end, there’s I feel still unsafe in areas even with the presence of the UC police; one, as a black male, there’s a lot of profiling that still hasn’t been addressed, profiling by UC police.”“But on the other end, there’s I feel still unsafe in areas even with the presence of the UC police; one, as a black male, there’s a lot of profiling that still hasn’t been addressed, profiling by UC police.”