Information about Campus Law Enforcement
UNC Police is a legally appointed entity with full law enforcement agency status whose sworn personnel have all the powers of law enforcement officers, including the authority to execute arrests. The Department’s jurisdiction includes “all property owned or leased to the institution employing the campus police officer and that portion of any public road or highway passing through such property or immediately adjoining it, wherever located,” in accordance with NC General Statute §116-40.5. In addition, the Granville Towers residential housing facilities also fall within the primary jurisdiction of UNC Police. In addition, UNC Chapel Hill also employs non-sworn security personnel who do not have powers of arrest, but provide a visible presence and monitor security cameras in many campus buildings. Additional non-sworn security personnel are employed as needed for large events such as football and basketball games.
Through an expanded jurisdiction agreement with the Chapel Hill Police Department, UNC Police officers who are en-route to off-campus locations are authorized to respond to any suspicious, criminal or emergency situations occurring on sections of Franklin and Rosemary streets to the north and west of campus, including off-campus housing, and they have full authority in those areas.
UNC Police has mutual aid agreements pertaining to providing assistance and the investigation of criminal incidents with the sheriff’s departments for Chatham County, Durham County, Orange County and New Hanover County; the police departments for Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Durham, Pittsboro, Hillsborough and Charlotte-Mecklenburg County; all of the UNC System institutions campus police departments; the North Carolina State Highway Patrol; and UNC Hospital Police.
UNC Police contacts local law enforcement agencies to inquire if any incidents involving UNC-Chapel Hill students or employees have occurred during the designated shift period. These incident reports, or a substantiative summary, are shared with the shift supervisor who also shares information with the Office of the Dean of Students when appropriate. UNC Police officers are also assigned with local law enforcement for joint patrols for special events occurring on or near campus and other related activities. When incidents are observed by UNC Police personnel during these events, incident reports are generated describing the incident in detail. These reports are also shared with other campus units when appropriate.
Officers from the Chapel Hill and Carrboro police departments and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office often provide assistance when there is a major special event at the University. On request, UNC Police cooperates with law enforcement agencies who are investigating criminal activity on the premises of recognized, off-campus student organizations; however, UNC Police does not request that local law enforcement agencies monitor or record criminal activity at these locations. UNC Police also has a close working relationship with the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation and N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement and also conducts joint operations and training exercises with the Chapel Hill Police Department.
A mobile command center is available for use in large-scale and/or protracted emergency services responses or for use in joint operations as an incident command center.
In the interest of agency interoperability, the UNC Police uses the statewide VIPER 800 MHz communication system that allows for a more cohesive communications strategy with other Orange County emergency and law enforcement agencies, as well as with law enforcement agencies across the state. Compliance with APCO Project 25 standards enhance interoperability with other agencies and enable UNC Police to stay current with changing technologies and the needs of the University community.