Schools

Princeton Police, University Sign Agreement on Policing

The agreement, signed May 14, outlines operating procedures between the two departments.

 

Princeton Police Department and Princeton University Department of Public Safety have signed an agreement that outlines how the two departments will communicate and operate with each other. 

The three-page document was signed, and became effective on, Tuesday, May 14. It will be reviewed annually, Princeton Police Capt. Nick Sutter said. This agreement is the culmination of many months of work. 

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"I believe that this model may serve as an example to other communities around the nation dealing with 'town and gown' policing,” Sutter said. “Members of our community should be confident in the fact that both departments are dedicated to the service of our communities.”

“We will share resources, expertise, equipment and whatever else is needed to collaborate,” said Paul Ominsky, the University’s executive director of public safety. 

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Before this agreement, Princeton Police responded to calls at Princeton University if notified by a witness, complainant or the University's Department of Public Safety, Sutter said. Now, there's a outline of who will respond to calls. 

Ominksy's department will now respond to “routine’ calls: medical, parking, alarms, transports, etc. on the Princeton University campus, Sutter said, noting that Princeton Police will provide backup if requested.

A member of Ominsky's officers’ union expressed an interest in carrying weapons earlier this year, but that is not part of this agreement. Any armed response on the Princeton University campus must involve the Princeton Police Department, Ominsky said.

Both departments will provide resources to one another immediately upon request.  

“We will work side by side each other dedicating resources and expertise we may not have access to alone,” Sutter said. “A big case can be manpower intensive and we now have, collectively, more resources to dedicate without pulling from day to day dedicated resources.”

The two departments will share facilities, instructors and expertise and train response for different scenarios together.

“Hiring an instructor to do training for both Departments is an effective way to conserve our budgets so that together we can provide our officers with the best training possible,” Ominsky said. "Additionally, the more we train together the more synergy we will develop between our departments."


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