Campus law enforcement in Oregon
Encyclopedia
In the U.S. state
of Oregon
, enforcement of local, state, and federal law on public university property is delegated to a number of security, public safety, and police agencies.
Public universities in Oregon may form campus police
departments if they so choose. As of September 2011, only the University of Oregon
has a University of Oregon Department of Public Safety
with approximately 90 staff. Other universities employ non-sworn public safety officers, security officers, or contract with other police agencies to provide services.
"The State Board of Higher Education may, at the request of a public university under its control, authorize the university to establish a police department and commission one or more employees as police officers. A police department established under this section has all of the authority and immunity of a municipal police department of this state."
Oregon Revised Statutes
(ORS) 352.385 provides for the commissioning and training of Special Campus Security Officers at Oregon's public universities. These officers are given probable cause
arrest authority and "Stop and Frisk" authority under Oregon law. However, they are restricted from carrying firearms and are excluded from the definition of "police" or "peace officer" for the purposes of most Oregon statutes.
ORS 353.050 provides for similar commissioning of officers at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), however, the 2009 legislature granted additional authorities to these officers. OHSU's officers are statutorily known as "University Police" and are considered police for the purposes of most Oregon statutes. These officers are still restricted from carrying firearms in the performance of their duties.
Several campuses have chosen to formally contract police services to supplement the work of their Public Safety Officers. Oregon State University
has a contracted detachment of the Oregon State Police
on campus, while the University of Oregon
has established an independent campus police department.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, enforcement of local, state, and federal law on public university property is delegated to a number of security, public safety, and police agencies.
Public universities in Oregon may form campus police
Campus police
Campus Police or University police in the United States and Canada are often sworn police officers employed by a public school district, college or university to protect the campus and surrounding areas and the people who live on, work on and visit it....
departments if they so choose. As of September 2011, only the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
has a University of Oregon Department of Public Safety
University of Oregon Department of Public Safety
The University of Oregon Department of Public Safety University of Oregon Department of Public Safety, is the law enforcement agency for the University of Oregon. It is tasked with full state police powers to enforces all State laws and University rules, with primary jurisdiction involving the...
with approximately 90 staff. Other universities employ non-sworn public safety officers, security officers, or contract with other police agencies to provide services.
Authority
Senate Bill 405, passed into law on June 23, 2011, states:"The State Board of Higher Education may, at the request of a public university under its control, authorize the university to establish a police department and commission one or more employees as police officers. A police department established under this section has all of the authority and immunity of a municipal police department of this state."
Oregon Revised Statutes
Oregon Revised Statutes
The Oregon Revised Statutes is the codified body of statutory law governing the U.S. state of Oregon, as enacted by the Oregon Legislative Assembly, and occasionally by citizen initiative...
(ORS) 352.385 provides for the commissioning and training of Special Campus Security Officers at Oregon's public universities. These officers are given probable cause
Probable cause
In United States criminal law, probable cause is the standard by which an officer or agent of the law has the grounds to make an arrest, to conduct a personal or property search, or to obtain a warrant for arrest, etc. when criminal charges are being considered. It is also used to refer to the...
arrest authority and "Stop and Frisk" authority under Oregon law. However, they are restricted from carrying firearms and are excluded from the definition of "police" or "peace officer" for the purposes of most Oregon statutes.
ORS 353.050 provides for similar commissioning of officers at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), however, the 2009 legislature granted additional authorities to these officers. OHSU's officers are statutorily known as "University Police" and are considered police for the purposes of most Oregon statutes. These officers are still restricted from carrying firearms in the performance of their duties.
Cooperative agreements and mutual aid
All of Oregon's campus agencies have informal mutual aid agreements with local police agencies.Several campuses have chosen to formally contract police services to supplement the work of their Public Safety Officers. Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
has a contracted detachment of the Oregon State Police
Oregon State Police
The Oregon State Police is the main state law enforcement agency of the U.S. state of Oregon. They have been charged to enforce all of Oregon's criminal laws and to help local law enforcement agencies with their duties...
on campus, while the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
has established an independent campus police department.
See also
- List of law enforcement agencies in Oregon
- Oregon University SystemOregon University SystemThe Oregon University System consists of seven public, four-year universities in the State of Oregon administered by the Chancellor of the OUS, who is appointed by the Oregon State Board of Higher Education...