Executive Policy Manual

EP47 Coordination of Police and Public Safety Services

Approved December 1, 2023

1.0  Policy and Purpose

WSU is authorized by statute to establish and maintain a police force whose members are sworn peace officers of the state of Washington and who exercise police powers to the same extent as those powers vested in sheriffs and officers generally under the laws of the state of Washington. (RCW 28B.10.550; .555) Two WSU campuses, Pullman and Vancouver, have established police departments with commissioned officers. WSU also has established public safety departments at its other campuses with responsibility for security, safety, and property of students, faculty, staff, and the public.

Responsibility for day-to-day oversight of public safety and law enforcement at each campus is assigned to the chancellors or their designees. The purpose of this policy is to establish a council with responsibility for systemwide coordination of police and public safety services.

2.0  Applicability

This policy applies to police and public safety services at all WSU campuses and locations.

3.0  Roles and Responsibilities

3.1   Public Safety Council

The WSU “Public Safety Council” is chaired by the WSU Pullman Chief of Police (also referred to as “Chief of Police”) and includes:

  • Chief of Police;
  • Highest ranking WSU Vancouver police officer; and
  • Directors of public safety or equivalent for each WSU campus and location.

A representative from the Attorney General’s Office also participates in an advisory capacity. The Chief of Police may also include representatives of other WSU units.

The Public Safety Council serves the purpose of systemwide communication and coordination for police and public safety services. This responsibility includes, but is not limited to:

  • Coordination in developing and implementing policies and standards to ensure police and public safety matters are handled consistently systemwide
  • Coordination to establish minimum employee training standards in designated areas
  • Communication regarding public safety and security issues
  • Sharing of crime prevention and other information
  • Sharing of resources, such as information technology (IT) resources and personnel, when appropriate and feasible
  • Intercampus coordination of mutual aid
  • Coordination and communication regarding memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with other law enforcement agencies
  • Coordination with campus facilities departments regarding best practices for addressing site security and potential vulnerabilities
  • Providing a forum for campus safety committees to relay safety and security concerns to the WSU system, when appropriate
  • Discussion of issues related to equity in policing

3.2   WSU Pullman Chief of Police

WSU has designated certain areas in which the WSU Pullman Chief of Police has specific duties and/or primary authority. Those areas include:

  • Clery Act Compliance (34 CFR 669.46) The WSU Pullman Chief of Police is designated as WSU’s Clery Coordinator, with responsibility to:
    • Ensure system compliance with the Clery Act;
    • Designate Clery co-coordinators; and
    • Convene a systemwide Clery Committee to support these efforts.
  • Firearms Authorization (BPPM 50.60)
  • Security Screening and Metal Detection (BPPM 50.34)
  • Threat Assessment (EP42)

    Note: The WSU Pullman Chief of Police shares threat assessment responsibility with the Dean of Students as co-chairs of the Threat Assessment Team.

  • Registered Sex Offender and Kidnapping Offender (EP46)

4.0  Requirements

4.1   Meetings and Reports

The Public Safety Council meets on a monthly basis and submits an annual report of progress and activities to the Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration or designee and each campus chancellor.

4.2   Decision-Making and Dispute Resolution

The Public Safety Council operates in a collaborative manner and is expected to make decisions on a consensus basis. In the event of a dispute, the Chief of Police has authority to decide and issues the decision in writing to all members of the council, along with the reason for the decision. A member of the council may, within seven days of receiving the written decision, request that the Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration or designee review the decision. A decision by the Executive Vice President or designee is final.

5.0  Related Policies

_______________________
Revisions:  December 2023 – new policy (Rev. 117)