On Patrol, On Alert, and On Call for You

Campus safety officers provide 24-hour security coverage, seven days a week. At least one safety officer is on campus at all times to do routine patrols and respond to the safety needs of the campus community. 

The in-house security staff has no powers of arrest, nor do they carry weapons. They are equipped with radios that communicate with the campus switchboard and the physical plant office. These radios have a telephone interconnect, so when extension 2278 is dialed on campus, a campus safety officer can intercept the call.

When the in-house campus safety officers are alerted to a crime in progress, or when an emergency situation arises, they have been instructed to contact the appropriate Chicopee law enforcement agencies immediately.

When Chicopee police are employed by Elms College, they have full power of arrest, and carry weapons while on campus duty. They carry Chicopee police radios and are in communication with police headquarters at all times. They have the authority to respond personally to a crime in progress, and can radio directly to the city police for backup or emergency services.

All campus safety officers log in for their shift at the safety office. There are written instructions posted at this location describing the daily routines, the duties they are expected to perform, and regulations regarding their conduct.

The officers write out reports on any incidents that occur during their shift, and submit them to the director of operations and the vice president of student affairs. When a crime is committed or an emergency occurs, they also insure that a report is filed with the Chicopee Police Department. Officers are also asked to report (in writing) to the director of facilities any safety considerations such as lighting repairs, structural safety problems, or shrubbery trimming needed for better ground visibility. Maintenance is expected to act on these reports within a reasonable amount of time.