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What does the Department of
Public Safety do?
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The
Department of Public Safety, is responsible for safety and security on
campus. The Department of Public Safety is in full operation twenty-four
hours a day, seven days a week. Full time staff consists of the
Director, associate Director, lieutenant, crime prevention officer,
investigator, sergeants, field officers, dispatchers and clerical
support staff. During the academic year, students supplement the
department's staffing, providing escort and shuttle services.
The primary
responsibility of the Public Safety Department is protection of life and
property. Realistically, no society, community or college campus can be
totally crime free. However, we can take measures to deter criminal
activity on campus. Each member of the University community has a
responsibility to adopt sound safety and security practices both on and
off campus. It is only in partnership with one another that we can
continue to provide a safe environment in which to work, learn, and
engage in social activities.
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Can you bust me officer
Lehan?
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Public Safety personnel currently do not
have sworn police powers, and do not carry offensive weapons such as
firearms, but we are required to
enforce all state, local, and federal rules and regulations, ordinances
and laws including those pertaining to alcohol and drug violations on
campus. We also enforce University regulations and conduct routine
parking enforcement. Every effort is made to enforce these regulations
in an equitable and professional manner. Public Safety maintains a
close, professional relationship with the Hartford, West Hartford and
Bloomfield police departments and response from these departments, when
needed, is prompt and very supportive.
That said Public Safety officers can
charge students with offenses as listed in the living document, called
THE SOURCE. Printed once a year and up to date on line at
The Source We also uphold all housing rules set down by the
Office of Residential Life and the University Administration. These
charges are processed in our on-campus legal system process called
Judicial Review. Major crimes and offenses may incur both University
charges and federal, state or local charges requiring the services of a
lawyer.
We can detain you while investigating
crimes and offenses, restrain you if necessary for your own, bystander
or officer safety. We can enter any
location on campus including dorm rooms and apartments, when need arises
for health, well being and general safety issues as this is private property,
and you are guests of the University. These situations
include but are not limited to:
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Searching for busted pipes or open
windows in winter. |
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Searching for
plumbing, electrical or other utility issues. |
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Noise complaints where no one responds to
a knock on the door. |
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Requests from
O. R. L., AC, RD, or RA's for suspected drug and alcohol or health and
safety violations. |
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Smoke and fire detector activations. |
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Check Welfare Checks of students failing
to respond to phone calls, or missed appointments from concerned parties
as expected or after injuries. |
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The Judicial office can issue
search warrants 24 hours a day, seven days a week for Public Safety and
or Local Police to search for drugs, alcohol, weapons or any other
banned items or stolen goods. |
Remember you
as students waved most of your rights under the student conduct, parking
permit and housing contracts that you signed that bind you to follow the
rules and regulations of the University.
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What training do
you have as Public Safety Officers?
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All Public Safety officers have at least
Connecticut State certification as Medical Response Technicians with
some officers certified at higher levels of medical training. These
individuals are first responders to all medical emergencies on campus
and provide immediate assessment and care. Members of the Public Safety
Department are well trained and maintain certifications in the PR-24
defensive baton, OC a.k.a. pepper spray, handcuffing, and MOAB -
management of aggressive behavior. Staff members are also trained to
properly respond to reports of sexual assaults, group disturbances,
fires, psychological emergencies, and conflicts involving faculty and
staff, students or individuals not formally associated with the
University.
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What type of calls
do you respond to?
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Routine incidents, emergencies, and calls
for service, such as lockouts of rooms, and jumps for disabled cars in
our parking lots. We also escort students upon request of our
dispatchers. For patrol purposes, the properties owned or controlled by
the University of Hartford are divided into districts that are patrolled
by officers in vehicles, on foot, and on bicycles. Officers are required
to maintain high visibility and department vehicles are well marked and
easily identified. |
Why did I get a
motor vehicle violation? I was parked legal wasn't I?
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The University of Hartford appreciates the cooperation
and courtesy shown by most students, faculty, staff, and friends who
observe the established parking and traffic regulations. While most
people follow the rules and regulations, a few do not.
All parking rules and regulations are covered in the
Your
Car on Campus publication issued with each parking permit.
Residents
CAN ONLY park their vehicle where assigned. If you are assigned
to N lot you cannot move your car up campus to be closer to a class.
TAKE THE SHUTTLE BUS.
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Yikes $100.00 fine
in J lot, I was only at the SASC registering for classes!
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NO ONE with
the exception of Public Safety, Operations, Emergency vehicles, or
official university vendors may park in J lot. We ticket all
vehicles not displaying a Bates House permit.
J lot is the
Admissions (Bates House) visitors parking lot. These visitors
spaces require a special permit issued only by Bates House. Bates issues
the permits to prospective students and parents who drive often several
hours to get here.
The only
exception to the rule for J lot is the flasher rule. (see below) The fine for
parking in J lot is $100.00 as clearly marked on a sign at the entrance. |
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What is the flasher
rule? |
Short term
allowances for loading and unloading vehicle contents will be allowed If
you set your four way hazard lights on, you may park in any open LEGAL
non-reserved space FOR FIFTEEN minutes ONLY!
LIMITATIONS:
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You
can never park in a State Permit Handicap space (fine is $116.00)
unless your vehicles registering state has issued you a valid handicap
parking hang tag, and the hang tag is displayed. |
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You may
never park in any yellow painted NO PARKING spaces or Fire Lanes or
beside yellow painted curbs. |
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No parking in front of dumpsters and fire hydrants |
Public Safety
officers will electronically "Chalk your tires" to record the time and
duration of your parking. At sixteen minutes a violation shall be
issued in an amount corresponding to the place and posted limits of the
space your parked in. In addition a
tow order may occur to your vehicle, at owners expense.
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Hey my car is in
the shop where can I park my loaner? |
The process is
called Posting your Vehicle. Just call or Come to the Public Safety Dispatcher
window with registration of the loaner (rental agreement) and fill out a
posting form. It's that easy and two minutes will save you ticketing
heartache. |
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Why was my car
immobilized with a Denver boot, or towed away? |
All cars on
campus MUST show a valid parking sticker, hanging tag or temporary pass.
All others are trespassing on private property and will be subject to
fines, fees and or be towed.
Any vehicle
not parked in a legal spot, or parked after legal hours posted may be
towed off campus at owners expense.
When an owner/operator
accumulates eight (8) or more tickets (paid or unpaid), his or her
parking privileges will automatically be revoked for the remainder of
the academic year. The offending operator may not operate or park any
vehicle on campus, and no one may operate a vehicle belonging to or
operated by the offending operator. Such vehicles are considered banned
from campus and will be immobilized and/or towed if found operating or
parked on campus. Failure to adhere to this policy may result in
administrative disciplinary action. Appeals of this revocation may be
made to the Director of Public Safety or designee. Please call for an
appointment if you wish to make an appeal at 80.768.7985
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Why did I loose my
parking privileges for speeding on campus? |
The speed
limit is 15 miles per hours on all campus roads and in all parking lots.
If you are found speeding a scale of fines includes:
| 20 to 30 mph
$30.00 |
| 31 to 40 mph
$50.00 |
| 41 and over
$75.00 and loss of all parking privileges. |
So you must
have been driving over 41 mph, or you got two lower speeding tickets in
the year.
Anyone who receives
two moving violations in an academic year will have all parking
privileges revoked for the remainder of that year.
We use Laser to
track your speed, so slow down. You never know where we will be
running traps, as the laser has so much more of a range then radar does.
We see you before you see us.
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Why did I get a
$100.00 ticket for failing to yield? |
The campus is a
pedestrian zone and YOU MUST YIELD to any pedestrian who is on the road
walking, or running. You MUST stop for anyone crossing the road EVEN if
they are not in a crosswalk.
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