Page 24 - College Planning & Management, July/August 2018

TODAY’S WELL-DRESSED CAMPUS POLICE OFFICER
safety information that can enhance overall campus community safety. In terms of Clery Act compliance, technology enhancements have also enabled greater access to information among consumers beyond the campus boundaries. Anecdotally, it seems more prospective parents are accessing this information more frequently.
In terms of challenges, social media creates complications for the work officers do in the field. For example, which clip of a video is used in social media can result in a critical perspective of a situation. An- other example is that students know about incidents more quickly and often rely on unconfirmed social media postings to get their information. Institutions must then play catch-up in order to provide accurate details that are often delayed because
of necessary confirmation. There is a
slight delay from a confirmation perspec- tive because we want to make sure it has happened and that they understand our response to it.
Enhancements and challenges created by technology can also be looked at from
an investigative perspective. From an enhancement perspective, access control, cell phone tracking through wireless technology, and covert cameras help in the investigative process and allow officers to close out cases more efficiently and provide the necessary reports that students expect. From a challenge perspective, social media is problematic in terms of cyberstalking and bullying. It’s easier to be both cyberstalked and bullied. And the posts on some apps disappear within a matter of minutes, making it difficult to track from an investigative perspective, thereby making it easier for criminals to commit crime.
CPM: What technologies are campus police officers carrying that are vital to day-to- day operations?
Lafferty: Three come to mind. The first is mobile devices, such as smartphones and iPads, which allow officers to do more work
in the field, such as verifications. When you think about crime scene investigation, we
used to lug around cameras; now we can use small handheld tools. The second is body cameras. This technology continues to evolve, and it has been beneficial for police officers, notably for responding to community com- plaints after the fact. The third is taser and other nonlethal weapon enhancements, which allow officers to use force that is less than deadly in many circumstances, and that’s important.
The biggest impact that technology
has made is that officers are more self- sufficient, portable, and can more easily personally interact with communities. From a community policing perspective, that’s important. It can be challenging
to build relationships, and technology
has made that easier and has also made
it easier to communicate with students. We’re finding new ways to reach out to our students. Students are paying attention to newer technologies to gain information related to campus events and social outlets. Where we’ve struggled a bit is ensuring we’re hiring officers who are technologi- cally savvy so they understand how to use mobile devices and use them to connect with students.
CPM: With what technologies are campus patrol cars outfitted that are vital to day-to- day operations?
Lafferty: Patrol cars used to be outfitted with what were called mobile digital terminals, which were large and heavy. Some vehicles are still equipped with them. But now cars are outfitted with smaller, lighter comput- ers. I’m thinking of durable Surface Pros
and iPads, which sit in the cars, and officers are able to easily type on them and complete reports in the field. A second technology used in cars are mini iPads, which are a bit larger than the new iPhones, which have become bigger. Parking enforcement staff find them easy to carry for issuing citations in that they can look up plates without having to call dispatch to do it for them, and they’re able to print tickets in the field. Through a comput- er-generated system the software connects to our billing process, so students get citations
BODY CAMERAS ON CAMPUS
An increasing number of colleges and uni- versities are outfitting their sworn officers with wearable, or body, cameras. Body cameras worn by law enforcement officers have become an industry standard in many agencies.
As of April 2017, police officers with The University of Texas at Austin are equipped with portable video cameras worn on the front of their uniforms. The cameras will be worn by officers for a variety of reasons, but most importantly in order to continue to build trust with those they serve and reas- sure the public that this is yet another step toward achieving mutual safety.
At Wake Forest University in Winston- Salem NC, all security officers and police officers are issued wearable cameras as part of their standard issued equipment.
Northwestern Police at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, began explor-
ing the use of body-worn cameras in April 2016, working in collaboration with key stakeholders across the university to ensure a thoughtful approach. In June 2017, the university began a 30-day pilot phase
with five Northwestern police officers. The feedback provided from both the officers and the campus community members shaped implementation. Northwestern went live with body-worn cameras for all sworn personnel on February 1, 2018.
In June 2017, East Carolina University in Greenville, NC, purchased 70 body cameras for campus officers with the intent to have them in use before the end of the year.
There are many more across the country. It is important to remember, however, that just purchasing the cameras and assigning them to officers is only a small part of their use. Policies and procedures should be established to determine how and when the cameras are used as well as who has access to the resulting recordings and now long those recordings are retained, among other considerations.
The University of North Florida Police Department has online a detailed Written Directives Manual on the subject of body- worn cameras for its Jacksonville campus. It can be reviewed here: https://goo.gl/APB4ce.
24 COLLEGE PLANNING & MANAGEMENT / JULY/AUGUST 2018
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