TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Public Forum on Agreement to Extend the University’s Public Safety Jurisdiction
DATE: April 8, 2002
The purpose of this public forum is to seek comment on a request by the University Board of Trustees to extend, on a limited basis, the law enforcement jurisdiction of the University Department of Public Safety.
On February 25, 2002, the Council considered a recommendation from the Manager to enter into an agreement with the University Board of Trustees that would extend the law enforcement jurisdiction of the University Department of Public Safety.
Currently, the off-campus law enforcement jurisdiction of University police officers is limited. University officers have jurisdiction on public streets adjoining campus property. They also have the authority to arrest a suspect who has committed a crime on campus and is apprehended fleeing the scene of the offense. All other off-campus law enforcement activities, including follow-up investigations, arrests, and the service of warrants at the magistrate’s office must be done by Chapel Hill officers or in conjunction with Chapel Hill officers.
The extended jurisdiction would allow University police officers jurisdiction within the Town limits only when investigating crimes that had occurred on campus property, or when serving judicial processes at the magistrate’s office located at the Chapel Hill Police Headquarters building. Please see the attached University Department of Public Safety draft General Order that would regulate the actions of University police officers.
The Council instructed the Manager to schedule a public forum on the issue.
That the Council receive citizen comment on the proposed Agreement to Extend University Public Safety Jurisdiction and refer the proposal to the Manager for a follow-up report.