In an effort to reduce the exposure of UNC Police officers to the COVID-19 virus while remaining committed to assisting community members on a personal and professional basis during this current health emergency, we will be enacting a temporary “Special Order: Telephone Response Plan (TRP).”
The “Order” would temporarily go into effect on Monday, March 16 and be rescinded only when University transitions back to in-person classes and University operations return to normal. Complaints received and processed during the specified operational period will be given the same priority and attention as complaints taken in-person by sworn members of UNC Police. Should a complainant desire to see an officer, then the call will be handled normally.
Some examples of calls appropriate for the TRP may include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Non-active misdemeanor crimes
- Non-active larcenies under $1,000.00
- Non-active criminal mischief crimes involving property damage under $1,000.00
- Non-active threatening, harassing, or obscene telephone calls
- Non-active, non-violent landlord/tenant disputes
- Non-active housing complaints of a non-serious nature
- Non-emergency animal complaints
- Lost property
- Walk-in complaints at the Police Desk
- Stolen motor vehicle reports, as necessary
Investigators within the UNC Police Criminal Investigation Division will continue to operate normally when assigned cases involving felonious crimes and misdemeanor interpersonal crimes against persons. This “Order” is not all-inclusive: adherence may include other crimes as deemed necessary or appropriate by the UNC Police Command Staff.
Examples of service calls inappropriate for the TRP may include the following:
- Forensic services are required because evidence needs to be collected and preserved
- Witnesses must be interviewed immediately
- Severe injuries were inflicted
- The incident will likely re-occur if police officers do not respond
- The event is actively occurring
- The perpetrator remains in the area
- Calls from young children
- Incident involving weapons or the threatened use of weapons
- Incident requiring a medical response
- Acts or threatened acts of terrorism or homeland security
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Any domestic disputes or violence related calls
- Missing children
- Whenever the call screener believes that, based on their training and experience, a police response may need to properly address the call for service
The Carolina campus should rest assured that safety and security of this community remains our top priority, and we appreciate the public’s assistance and understanding during these challenging and unprecedented times.