Our Department

Police Authority

University of North Georgia Public Safety is a fully certified, state police agency. All officers employed by the university are equivalent to the police or sheriff deputies employed in any city. University police officers are authorized to make arrests for violations of state law and city ordinances, obtain and execute search warrants, and enforce traffic laws.

Jurisdiction

The jurisdiction of �� Public Safety as defined by Georgia law is public or private property under control of the Board of Regents plus 500 yards. The officers can still operate beyond the 500 yard limit under the following conditions:

The officers can leave their jurisdiction if they are in pursuit of an individual.
The University has entered into mutual aid agreements with surrounding counties and municipalities. Under these agreements, University police officers can operate off campus when requested by other agencies to assist them.
University police operate under the authority of the Board of Regents of the ��. As employees of the Board of Regents, the officers are authorized by law to serve on any campus under the Regents control and retain their full authority.

The �� Public Safety Department has a strong working relationship with neighboring jurisdictions. On a regular basis, the departments share information and equipment, assist with investigations, and provide back-up when needed.

Uniform Patrol

The Public Safety and Police Department is on the job 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Whether on routine patrol, responding to emergencies, or simply providing campus information, our uniformed officers ensure our campuses are safe and civil. Patrol officers make up two-thirds of our personnel and perform several functions aimed at maintaining an environment conducive to learning and personal development. We strive to achieve this by patrolling the university community, traffic enforcement, and responding to calls for public assistance and welfare. Our officers also provide protection for visiting dignitaries that have included senators, congressmen, governors, and high ranking military officials. Patrol officers generally work in full uniform and operate in marked police vehicles.

In addition to patrolling the campus in traditional police vehicles, the patrol officers also utilizes foot patrols, bicycles and ATVs for general and targeted enforcement. These vehicles allow officers to patrol many areas of the university’s campus where patrol cars cannot.

Communications

The Communications Division is on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Communications officers monitor emergency telephone lines, police and fire radio frequencies, and a national/state crime information computer. Additionally, they provide access control systems to the campus and monitor the National Weather Service Radio—issuing severe weather alerts to our students and faculty/staff. Our communications officers have the responsibility of monitoring security cameras placed strategically throughout university buildings and their parking lots. All video footage is recorded and can be accessed at any time for evidence purposes.

Each communications officer undergoes extensive and continuous training to keep abreast of current technological and emergency communications techniques. The communications officer is often the first contact someone has with the department. They endeavor to listen effectively and quickly disseminate information to the appropriate field unit, departmental office, or other public safety agency. While we hope you never find yourself in need of emergency assistance, our communications officers welcome the opportunity to serve you.

Investigations

Investigators perform a wide variety of investigative and administrative functions to serve the University of North Georgia (��) community. Investigators routinely work with surrounding law enforcement agencies on multi-agency task forces in response to crimes that affect multiple communities. Our investigators have taken part in several successful task force investigations that culminated in violent offenders being taken into custody. From death investigations to parking lot accidents, Investigations has the responsibility and training to fully investigate all reported incidents. In recent years, we have successfully investigated all types of criminal complaints, including numerous cases of identity theft, theft by taking, sexual assaults, and computer related crimes involving the �� community.

Striving for Excellence

Officers engage in a number of advanced and continuous training courses which enable them to remain at the forefront of the law enforcement profession. Each newly hired officer must be a state certified police officer with a minimum of two years prior experience. Once hired, officers undergo a rigorous field training program within the police department, which includes advanced certifications and training such as Radar and Intoxilizer Certifications, Standardized Field Sobriety training, Firearms Qualifications, and Defensive Tactics training. During the field training program, officers must familiarize themselves with the patrol rifle. All officers undergo annual Active Shooter Training in cooperation with local and state law enforcement agencies.

Policies and Programs

Alcohol and Substance Abuse Information
Prevention Programs

The University has developed a program to prevent the illicit use of drugs and the abuse of alcohol by students and employees. The program provides services related to drug use and abuse including dissemination of informational materials, educational programs, counseling services, referrals and college disciplinary actions.

These include:

Alcohol and Drug Education: University Health Services, Employee Assistance Program, University Health Class.

Counseling Services: Student Development Counselors, Employee Assistance Program.

Referral Services: Student Development Counselors, Counseling Services, Employee Assistance Program.

College Disciplinary Actions: Dean of Students, Director of Student Development.

Local, State & Federal Legal Sanctions

Legal Sanctions - Laws Governing Alcohol

Age Requirement

The State of Georgia sets 21 as the minimum age to purchase or possess any alcoholic beverage.

Specific ordinances regarding violations of alcohol laws, including driving while intoxicated, are available from the Office of Public Safety.

Violations

A violation of any law regarding alcohol is also a violation of the University's Student Code of Conduct and will be treated as a separate disciplinary matter by the University.

Alcoholic Beverages

The possession, sale or the furnishing of alcohol on any �� campus is governed by �� Code of Conduct and Georgia state law. The enforcement of alcohol laws on-campus is the primary responsibility of the �� Police Department. The �� campus has been designated "Drug free" and only under certain circumstances is the consumption of alcohol permitted.

The possession, sale, manufacture or distribution of any controlled substance is illegal under both state and federal laws. Such laws are strictly enforced by the �� Police Department. Violators are subject to University disciplinary action, criminal prosecution, fine and imprisonment. It is unlawful to sell, furnish or provide alcohol to a person under the age of 21. The possession of alcohol by anyone less than 21 years of age in a public place or a place open to the public is illegal.

It is also a violation of the �� Code of Conduct for anyone to consume or possess alcohol in any public or private area of campus without prior University approval. Organizations or groups violating alcohol/substance policies or laws may be subject to sanctions by the University and/or criminal prosecution.

Illegal Drugs

All of the University of North Georgia (��) campuses have been designated "Drug Free" and only under certain circumstances is the consumption of alcohol permitted. The possession, sale, manufacture or distribution of any controlled substance is illegal under both state and federal laws. Such laws are strictly enforced by the �� Police Department. Violators are subject to Univeristy disciplinary action, criminal prosecution, fine and imprisonment.

Campus Access Policy

During business hours, the University will be open to students, parents, employees, contractors, guests, and invitees. During non-business hours, access to all University facilities is by key, if issued, or by admittance via the Department of Public Safety staff after receiving an email requesting admittance. In the case of periods of extended closing, the University will admit only those with prior approval to all facilities. Some facilities may have individual hours, which may vary at different times of the year.

Policy for Reporting the Annual Disclosure of Crime Statistics

The University Police prepares this report to comply with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act.

This report is prepared in cooperation with the local law enforcement agencies surrounding our main campus and alternate sites, The Division of Student Development and Enrollment Services, the Dean of Students, the Division of Business Affairs, and the Division of Academic Affairs. Each entity provides updated information on their educational efforts and programs to comply with the Act.

Campus crime, arrest and referral statistics include those reported to the �� Police, designated campus officials (including but not limited to directors, deans, department heads, advisors to students/student organizations, athletic coaches), and local law enforcement agencies. These statistics may also include crimes that have occurred in private residences or businesses and may or may not have been reported to law enforcement officials.

Each year, an email is made to all enrolled students that provides the web site to access this report. Faculty and staff receive similar notification. Copies of the report may also be obtained at the Department of Public Safety office or online.

Reporting a Crime
The �� Police Department encourages anyone who is the victim or witness to any crime to promptly report the incident to the police. Because police reports are public records under state law, the �� Police Department cannot hold reports of crime in confidence. Confidential reports for purposes of inclusion in the annual disclosure of crime statistics can generally be made to other authorities, as identified below. Confidential reports of crime may also be made on line at the Public Safety website using the anonymous report of a crime link.

Confidential Reporting Procedures

If you are the victim of a crime and do not want to pursue action within the University System or the criminal justice system, you may still want to consider making a confidential report. With your permission, a campus official can file a report on the details of the incident without revealing your identity.

The purpose of a confidential report is to comply with your wish to keep the matter confidential, while taking steps to ensure the future safety of yourself and others. With such information, the University can keep accurate records of the number of incidents involving students, determine where there is a pattern of crime with regard to a particular location, method, or assailant, and alert the campus community to potential danger. Reports filed in this manner are counted and disclosed in the annual crimes statistics for the institution.

To Report a Crime:

To report a crime, contact the University Police at 706-864-1500 or dial 911. Also, there are blue light emergency call boxes located around campus. Any suspicious activity, or person seen in parking lots loitering around vehicles, inside buildings or other areas should be reported to the police department. Dispatchers are available 24 hours a day to answer your call. In addition to the police department, you may report a crime to the following areas:

Vice President for Student Development

Dean of Students

Vice President of Academic Affairs

Vice President of Business Affairs

For Off Campus crimes you should dial 911. The �� Department of Public Safety has a long standing relationship with area law enforcement agencies and has mutual aid agreements with surrounding agencies. Each department augments the other within their jurisdictions cooperating during mutual investigations, arrest, and prosecutions. University police attend local training meetings with local law enforcement to exchange ideas and problems which may be a concern for the university community.

Security Awareness Programs

During orientation students are informed of services offered by the University of North Georgia (��) Department of Public Safety. Public Safety presentations during orientation explain safety features on campus and outline ways to maintain personal safety.

Students are told about crime on-campus and in surrounding neighbor-hoods. Similar information is presented to new employees. Crime Prevention Programs and Sexual Assault Prevention Programs are offered on a continual basis upon request.

Periodically during the academic year the University Police, in cooperation with other college organizations and departments, present crime prevention awareness sessions on sexual assault (rape and acquaintance rape), Rohypnol abuse, theft, and vandalism, identity theft as well as educational sessions on personal safety and personal property security.

A common theme of all awareness and crime prevention programs is to encourage students and employees to be aware of their responsibility for their own security and the security of others. In addition to seminars, information is disseminated

When time is of the essence, information is released to the university community through security alerts posted prominently throughout campus, through computer memos sent over the university's electronic notice board system and the campus alert emergency notice system.

Timely Warnings Policy

In the event that a situation arises, either on or off campus, that, in the judgment of the �� Chief of Police, constitutes an ongoing or continuing threat, a campus wide "timely warning" will be issued. The warning will be issued through the university’s mass notification system to students, faculty and staff.

Depending on the particular circumstances of the crime, especially in all situations that could pose an immediate threat to the community and individuals, the Department of Public Safety may also post a notice on the Public Safety web site providing the college community with more detailed notification.

Anyone with information warranting a timely warning should report the circumstances to the �� Police Department at 706-864-1500 or in person to the Public Safety Building.

Reporting Policy for Counselors

According to the clarification given in the 1998 amendments to 20 U.S.C. Section 1092 (f), Campus "Pastoral Counselors" and Campus "Professional Counselors", when acting as such, are not considered to be a campus security authority and are not required to report crimes for inclusion into the annual disclosure of crime statistics. As a matter of policy, they are encouraged, if and when they deem it appropriate, to inform persons being counseled of the procedures to report crimes on a voluntary basis for inclusion into the annual crime statistics.

The rulemaking committee defines counselors as:

Pastoral Counselor: An employee of an institution who is associated with a religious order or denomination, recognized by that religious order or denomination as someone who provides confidential counseling and who is functioning within the scope of that recognition as a pastoral counselor.
Professional Counselor: An employee of an institution whose official responsibilities include providing psychological counseling to members of the institution's community and who is functioning within the scope of his or her license or certification.

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Public Safety and Police Department