The University will host a presentation and Q&A session tomorrow regarding legislation currently being considered by the Oregon State Senate that could allow for the transition of the University Department of Public Safety to a sworn police agency.
This legislative agenda, which are State Bills 116 and 405, is at the forefront of the University’s Campus Policing Initiative.
The bills vary slightly, but if passed, both would allow for the State Board of Higher Education to authorize Oregon University System universities under board control to establish university police departments on their respective campuses.
The University’s DPS is currently considered a campus public safety agency. Its officers are not sworn, have limited policing and arresting powers, cannot carry weapons and does not have full access to Oregon Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) benefits that state and municipal police officers in Oregon are typically entitled to. If the department were to become a sworn police agency under the proposed legislation, its officers would be required to undergo state training and certification identical to other police officers in the state of Oregon.
The event, set for tomorrow at 1 p.m. in the Mills International Center, is called “Coffee With the Chief.” Slated to be in attendance are DPS Chief Doug Tripp, DPS Assistant Chief Carolyn McDermed, University Dean of Students Paul Shang, Community Relations Director Greg Rikhoff and State Relations Director Courtney White.
The event is slated to last two hours and will be an informal Q&A session, DPS Captain Ed Rinne said. Rinne also said that although the forum will be open, DPS would prefer that all discussion pertains to the Campus Policing Initiative.
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