09:29:00 Patrol of the Campuses and Other Duties

PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to establish protocol for vehicle and foot patrol of campus buildings and areas.

POLICY

The policy of the Walters State Campus Police Department is to ensure a safe and secure environment on the college campuses through active and vigilant patrol of all properties of each campus including its roadways, walkways, parking lots, buildings and police academy residence facilities.

FOOT PATROLS

Walters State Campus Police and Safety officers conduct regular/daily foot patrols in buildings and around campuses. The focus of these patrols is to provide a safe and secure environment for educational and business productivity. The goal is to maintain police presence throughout the day and evening.

VEHICLE PATROLS

Walters State Campus Police and Safety officers conduct regular vehicle patrols through parking lots and campus streets at locations where patrol vehicles are available.  The focus of these vehicle patrols is to deter crimes that may occur in parking lots or on campus streets and to provide safety patrols for students, staff, and visitors to the college.

PATROL AREAS

Campus Police and Safety officers are responsible for vehicle and foot patrol within the boundaries of the campus property. Patrolling of roadways between campus locations is the responsibility of the local jurisdiction police or sheriff’s department. Officers encountering incidents when traveling between campus locations should make radio or telephone contact with the appropriate jurisdiction department. Campus police and safety officers should provide the assistance needed until the arrival of the appropriate officer and then turn the incident over to them. In addition, officers may provide assistance at the request of a local agency when needed.

CALLS FOR SERVICE

The Campus Police office does not employ a dispatcher. However, the on duty officer is provided a departmental cell phone and is to have the phone with him/her at all times while on duty. Calls to the primary Campus Police number on all campuses is forwarded to the cell phone. Calls for service are answered in the order in which they are received. Emergency calls, where circumstances warrant immediate action, take priority over non-emergency or routine calls. Officers will respond to all calls as quickly as possible in all cases.

OTHER DUTIES

Campus Police and Safety Officers are assigned various other duties/responsibilities in addition to patrol of the campus. It will be necessary for officers to prioritize work time during their shift to accomplish tasks, which they are assigned and balance their time appropriately with regard to patrol and completion of other assignments. Other duties include but are not limited to:

1. Provide non-emergency assistance to students, staff and visitors in any way possible and as resources permit.
2. Parking assistance and enforcement.
3. Public relations.
4. Answering calls for service.
5. Investigation of incidents or offenses.
6. Report writing.
7. Records keeping.
8. Completion of safety checks.
9. Completion of daily reports.
10. Other duties as assigned.

10/19