Northeastern grad student learns about the Mass. General Laws
So this Northeastern grad student sees Northeastern cops grilling a couple of non-students whom they suspected of attacking and punching two undergrads and decides to get involved - by telling the guys they don't have to say anything because the uniforms "aren't real cops." The cops tell him to go away, but he refuses and just keeps repeating how they aren't real cops.
At which point, the Huntington News reports, the cops decided to show him just how real they were, by arresting him for disorderly conduct (he was due for arraignment this week in Roxbury District Court). Apparently, the student had failed to read Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 22c, section 63:
Such special state police officers shall serve for three years, subject to removal by the colonel [of the State Police], and they shall have the same power to make arrests as regular police officers for any criminal offense committed in or upon lands or structures owned, used or occupied by such college, university, or other institution or hospital.
Smart until proven dumb.
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Silly, silly grad student....
When you're an undergrad at NU you quickly learn the difference between brown shirts and blue shirts. Both are "NUPD" but brown shirts don't carry weapons, can't detain you, and don't have powers of arrest. Blue shirts? Regular cops with all the powers you would expect.
plus...
most, (if not all), of these campus police officers are also Suffolk County Sherrifs, giving them even more police powers (campus police cannot "pull" vehicles over on public roads)
Other cities and towns , for
Other cities and towns , for the most part, also have similar deals with the colleges where a campus officer can act as an officer on and off campus if need be.
This kid was obviously a moron, and was trying to inject himself into a situation he had no business being in. Maybe next time he will think twice about jumping in to "Save the day." It makes me wonder though, do other states/schools have a similar relationship between the State/City/School where the campus cops can also be real cops?
shady
"campus police officers" vary from college to college. Schools like NU, BC, BU, Harvard, MIT have campus police that have total police powers (in terms of arrest powers) on school and public property. State statues dictate what powers they have and dont have.
Im definitly familiar with
Im definitly familiar with the local schools, and I know many (if not all) of the state schools have similar statues in effect. I was just wondering if schools in other states have the same powers? I think it makes alot of sense to give the campus police real police powers, especially in a college setting where everybody seems to think they know the laws and constitutional powers better then the officers do.
I think NY does.
I remember in college campus cops were able to pull over vehicles on town roads. But Im not sure.
Cost savings
It should save the surrounding municipality a lot of money if the campus police have full powers. Otherwise they have to rely more on the city/town police. The colleges don't pay taxes and end up draining resources from the community in policing costs. College kids seem to act like assholes a lot more than when I was a kid, so policing costs are up. This can end up driving up local property taxes, as in Amherst.
Jurisdiction Issues
State campuses are on state-owned land, and that may set up some interesting dynamics given how we once had separate police forces for the capital, the MDC, etc.
There is also a question of response time, particularly when the campus is removed from the center of the community or otherwise gated or restricted in access. The admin for my unit at a state school had an ex-husband with a huge body, violent temper, and drug habit. He was under a restraining order that barred him from the campus. We rehearsed a plan in case he showed up, and I had to put it into effect one day. It really helped that the campus cops were located in an adjoining building and I didn't have to stall him for very long while I "checked to see if she was in today" and he grew increasingly agitated about the delay. The city cops simply could not have responded that quickly, and the campus cops needed the arrest authority to get him out of there.
The campus cops didn't have a holding tank, though, so the city guys came and got him. It is a system that seems to work - so long as there is adequate training of the campus police officers to protect them and the public and prevent unnecessary incidents of unprofessional behavior.
yea
most of the campus cops here in MA go to the same academy that regular police do (I think BU sends theirs to the Boston Academy for free..er..I mean with tax money!). Anyway, these guys are very well trained and pretty profesional for the most part. Im also pretty sure most of them have holding cells.
Some hospitals also have full police departments with full police powers (BI)
Northeastern Police even have detectives
Five fulltime detectives, in fact.
Arrested on campus - held by town
I know my local police blotter lists the occasional 'courtesy booking' from the colleges. My understanding is the school police are responsible for the arrest & incarceration and the town is simply providing the secure facility.
And as a former NU student & staffer I recall the propensity towards "barracks lawyers" who were all too willing to loudly, incorrectly, and inappropriately interject themselves into situations with their (mis)understanding of policies & procedures.
As one aged & wise senior administrator once taught me: "There are two ways to cut red tape - the short way, and the looong way...". There were several persons who invariably warranted the *full* paperwork.
disorderly conduct
is disorderly actually characterized as a "criminal" offense or would it fall under a civil or misdemeanor?
It is criminal and a misemeanor
$200 fine or 6 months in jail is the max penalty.
Swirrly, Brett, where are u?
It's only a matter of time before these 2 cop haters chime in and start ripping into how these cops were wrong in some way or other.
At least
swirrly asks legitimate questions, makes legitimate points and is civil about things.
Brett likes to make up things and when he finds out he is wrong, says he doesnt have time to talk about it or blames other people on "baiting" him into making those inncorrect statemnts.
But you can bet he thinks the kids probably did nothing wrong here and the police went out of their way to abuse their power. This of course could be true, but I wouldnt accuse someone of doing something wrong without the facts.
Sorry Swirlygrrl.
Pete is right, Swirly is civil and I have been a jerk for attacking her. I'm sorry Swirly, I get angry though because you automatically question, no, you infer, that every time any cop does anything, they are either wrong or are somehow abusing someone's rights. Lumping all cops together is prejudiced, and by doing so you are acting like a racist because you are giving all members of one group the same characteristics and doing that is wrong. Go ahead, question authority, you have that right, but don't think that all cops are doing wrong. Just remember, the good ones are out there fighting for your rights (even the right to question them).
I think its hilarious that
I think its hilarious that Swrrlygrl and Brett are at the center of this mini thread and neither has had anything to say in this conversation yet (well swrllygrl did post something about handbooks or something, but other than that both have been on the sidelines.)
How very mature.
There is nothing civil about being an instigator.
Maybe he was speaking from experience?
Google provided me with this link
http://www.dailynewstranscript.com/archive/x1448184960
Waltham man charged with assault
WALTHAM -- A drunken Stearns Hill Road man was arrested at his home Monday after he smashed two doors with a metal folding chair and put friends in fear he would hit them, police said.
John Minelli, 22, of 5710 Stearns Hill Road, was charged with assault by means of a dangerous weapon, police said.
He was arrested at 2:11 p.m. No one was injured, police said.
Dated 2006, 2 years ago... Same name, and the guy in question here is 24.
From the Northeastern Student Handbook
Not exactly hidden knowledge that. If a 40-something with Teh Google and the search function in acrobat can find it in a matter of seconds, I'd think 20-something could find it in no time with all this magic youth tech fu we all hear about.
From the Northeastern Student Handbook 2008-9, page 55.
this happened right outside
this happened right outside my apt. the grad student was going up to the police officers, and also talking on a cell phone, and yelling at the officers, until finally the officers threw him onto the trunk of the car and arrested him. pretty epic to watch from my room!
threw?
Until finally the officers threw him onto the trunk of the car and arrested him.
Are you exaggerating, or did they really throw him around?