Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department SECTION NUMBER CHIEF OF POLICE EFFECTIVE REVIEW DATE 1 4 8/26/2013 11/2016 SUBJECT AGENCY JURISDICTION GENERAL The purpose of this directive is to define the law enforcement authority of the VCU Police Department (VCUPD), to ensure conformity with the requirements of Commonwealth of Virginia code, to define the cooperative functions between the VCUPD and other law enforcement agencies with or without concurrent jurisdiction and establish guidelines by which mutual aid will be provided to and requested by the VCUPD. ACCOUNTABILITY STATEMENT All employees are expected to fully comply with the guidelines and timelines set forth in this written directive. Failure to comply will result in appropriate corrective action. Responsibility rests with the division commander to ensure that any violations of policy are investigated and appropriate training, counseling and/or disciplinary action is initiated. CAMPUS JURISDICTION AND BOUNDARIES The VCUPD, consisting of sworn police officers and civilian security personnel, has jurisdiction on both the VCU (Monroe Park) and VCUHS (Medical) campuses. VCU campus police officers have the same authority and obligation to exercise police power as other state and municipal police officers. Campus police jurisdiction includes all university owned, leased and controlled property and the adjacent streets and sidewalks (Code of Virginia 23 234 Campus Police Act). The majority of the VCUPD jurisdiction is split between two geographical locations within downtown Richmond. The jurisdiction of the Monroe Park (academic) campus extends to north Lombardy Street to the west, East Canal Street to the south, and West Moore Street to the north. The eastern boundary extends on Belvidere Street from West Moore Street to West Broad Street, down West Broad Street to West Madison Street, down to West Main Street, down West Main Street to North Adams Street and down North Adams Street to North Canal Street. The jurisdiction of the MCV (medical) campus extends along 4 th Street to the Greater Richmond Convention Center as its westernmost boundary, east on Leigh Street to 10 th Street, south to Broad Street, east to Duval Street (right before the Interstate 95 interchange) and north to 7 th Street. VCUPD also monitors a parking area north of I 95 that borders 7 th Street. VCUPD Written Directives Manual 1-4 Agency Jurisdiction 1
JURSIDICTION AND CORE CAMPUS VCUPD has established the designated core campus boundaries on both campuses for compliance with the Federal Clery Act. Clery offenses or criminal activity that resembles offenses designated under the Clery Act, that occur within the core campus boundaries or contiguous thereto, shall be treated with heightened awareness for Clery reporting purposes. The on call captain shall be notified by the duty supervisor without delay, once the details have been obtained of any incidents that occur within core campus that require Clery Act reporting. INTERAGENCY COOPERATION A. VCUPD employees shall cooperate with other law enforcement and/or public service agencies in matters of mutual interest. Such cooperation enhances: 1. Exchange of information concerning criminal and traffic activity and other matters of police interest, 2. Development of joint plans to deal with activities of police interest, including jurisdictional cooperation efforts, 3. Arrest and return of fugitives, 4. Accomplishment of department goals and objectives, and 5. Professional image of the department and/or agencies involved. B. To facilitate cooperation, the department will: 1. Maintain membership in professional organizations such as the Virginia Police Chiefs Association, the Virginia Campus Police Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, etc. 2. The Chief of Police will attend regular meetings with local public safety officials for the coordination of plans in which the VCUPD has a mutual interest and for the resolution of other problems, which may arise. 3. Participate in the governor s statewide task force to combat drugs; maintain membership on the university s Security Council; participate in joint operations with those agencies in adjoining jurisdictions, and with any other agency whose investigation is or such a nature the VCUPD has a mutual interest. a. Utilize the NCIC/VCIN Teletype and telephone communications to maintain liaison with other on line agencies. b. Continue to maintain a liaison with agencies such as Richmond Circuit and Juvenile Courts, Richmond Commonwealth s Attorneys Office, Richmond Sheriff s Office, Department of Corrections, Department of Parole and Probation, etc. c. Participate in statewide fingerprint records and crime reported systems. VCUPD Written Directives Manual 1-4 Agency Jurisdiction 2
OFFENSE REPORTING AND INVESTIGATION A. Lawful authority exists for VCUPD to investigate all offenses that occur within its jurisdiction. B. Death investigations, sexual assaults and serious crimes that occur upon VCU property shall be reported and investigated according to the Memorandum of Understanding between the VCUPD and the RPD, as outlined below. a. Death investigations occurring on VCU property that are not suspicious in nature will be handled and investigated by the VCUPD. Upon the occurrence of these incidents, the VCUPD will contact and advise the Richmond Police Department of the investigation. b. All suspicious deaths, suspected suicides, homicides, and manslaughter cases occurring on VCU property will be investigated jointly between the VCUPD and the RPD. c. Homicides, death investigations and other serious violent crimes that occur within the VCU Health System will be investigated jointly between the VCUPD and the RPD. d. Sexual assaults that occur on VCU property or in close proximity, that involve students, faculty or staff, will be investigated by the VCUPD. The RPD will assist with forensic services and crime scene evidence collection, if necessary. The VCUPD will notify the RPD of these offenses at the time of occurrence. e. The VCUPD will contact and request formal assistance from the RPD for any investigation/situation that overwhelms VCUPD resources. f. The VCUPD will assist the RPD, if necessary, with any investigations that have any connection or affiliation to VCU. g. The VCUPD and the RPD will assist each other with law enforcement assistance on a case by case basis. h. The VCUPD will, if contacted regarding these types of offenses, create an administrative information report for informational purposes and offer Victim/Witness support to a student, faculty, or staff member as needed. OFFENSES OCCURING OUTIDE OF VCUPD JURISDICTION A. Officers of the Virginia Commonwealth University shall take appropriate police action for violations that the officer personally observes while acting within the jurisdiction of the Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department as outlined above. 1. If, however, an arrest is necessary to preserve the peace and /or protect life and property at a location that does not fall within the jurisdiction of the Virginia Commonwealth University Police, officers will be acting as a private citizen (the same as police officers who take such action outside of their jurisdiction). VCUPD Written Directives Manual 1-4 Agency Jurisdiction 3
2. The Richmond Police Department shall be responsible for all necessary reports in these situations. B. Officers responding to requests from law enforcement agencies or correctional institutions outside of the Commonwealth of Virginia, must perform the following actions: 1. The officers shall determine what type of action(s) may be necessary, 2. The officer shall notify his/her immediate supervisor about the situation, 3. The immediate supervisor shall notify the affected chain of command. If deemed appropriate, the commander or his/her designee will make the necessary arrangements. C. It is the responsibility of supervisors to address the priority of calls for service to offcampus locations. Determining priority will depend on manpower availability, oncampus activities occurring, the seriousness of the offense, and the need for forensic evidence support. TASK FORCE PARTICIPATION Complex criminal investigations as well as proactive law enforcement initiatives occasionally warrant efforts that extend beyond routine personnel deployment. One mechanism utilized by the department in such cases is the formation of a task force. If an investigative task force is formulated, whether within the VCUPD or as a mutual effort involving multiple agencies, a written directive shall be developed governing its activities to include: A. Identifying the purpose of the task force (including but not limited to the types of offenses for which the task force should be used), B. Defining the authority, responsibility, and any written agreements of the task force, and, C. Outlining the procedures for evaluating the task force s results and its need to continue operation. REQUEST FOR FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE A. Upon the incidence of crime upon the VCU or VCUHS campuses, the Chief of Police may authorize contact with the federal government for necessary assistance. B. In a situation arising from an incident within the Patrol Division, the Patrol Commander may enlist aid from federal agencies in an advisory capacity only. C. In a situation arising from an incident within the Investigative Division, the Support Services Captain may enlist aid from federal agencies in an advisory capacity only. D. Cooperative investigations shall be coordinated through the Support Services Captain. VCUPD Written Directives Manual 1-4 Agency Jurisdiction 4
MUTUAL AID Pursuant to the authority granted by VA Code 15.2 1724 through 15.2 1730.1, the VCUPD is a party to mutual aid agreements with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. A list of these agreements and copies of these agreements are maintained by the Office of the Chief of Police. All mutual aid Agreements must include, at a minimum, the following details: A. The legal status of agencies and agency personnel responding to mutual aid requests, B. Procedures for vesting provider agency personnel with the legal authority to act within the receiver agency s jurisdiction, C. Procedures for requesting mutual aid D. Identity of those persons authorized to request mutual aid, E. Identity of persons to whom outside personnel are to report, F. Procedures for maintaining radio communication with outside personnel, G. Expenditures, if any, which should be borne by the receiver agency to compensate for the use of the provider agency s resources, and H. Procedures for review and revision if prescribed in the agreement. NATIONAL GUARD ASSISTANCE In the event of a declared local emergency requiring the assistance of the Virginia National Guard and/or the Virginia State Police, the Chief of Police shall request the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer to request the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia to activate such assistance, as defined by VA Code 18.2 410 and 44 146.13 through 44 146.28. This authority is vested solely with the Chief of Police, or in his/her absence, the Acting Chief of Police. VCUPD Written Directives Manual 1-4 Agency Jurisdiction 5
Monroe Park Campus Legend Police Jurisdiction Core Campus Boundary Outline
MCV Campus Legend Police Jurisdiction Core Campus Boundary Outline