Introduction

Most parents today are concerned about the safety of their children when they are away from home. Likewise, those students who commute to our campus, our faculty, administrators and staff also want a safe and secure learning and working environment. Central Connecticut State University understands these concerns and is proud of its record in ensuring that people enjoy their time at CCSU as free as possible from threats to their safety and well-being.  

The CCSU commitment to public safety is expressed in several ways:

Police Services: On-duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year is a fully staffed, well equipped, and highly trained police department which is empowered to enforce all laws and regulations. This service is “customer” oriented and takes pride in its contributions to the quality of campus life.

Fire Protection: Central station-monitored alarm system combined with full time fire-safety personnel and adequate training is the front line defenses against fire.

Residence Life: A caring Residence Life Program with a live-in Director and Resident Assistants on each dormitory floor.

Facilities:  Campus facilities planning incorporates the concept of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design.

Technology:  In addition to emergency telephones strategically located throughout the campus, the University has adopted to plan to increasingly use localized and centrally monitored access control systems as well as closed circuit television (CCTV) of various public spaces on the campus.

Policies:  Tough policies restrict alcohol usage and prohibit illegal drug usage and the possession of weapons on our campus.  A campus judicial system is in place to deal appropriately with behaviors proscribed by campus regulations.

Counseling Services:  The availability of counseling, referral, and health services for students developing problems related to substance abuse or socialization.

Mission of the Public Safety Division

The CCSU Police Department is a full service police agency, tasked also with Environmental Health and Safety and Fire Prevention. Our primary role is to advance the mission of the University by helping to ensure a safe, healthy and stable work and learning environment for the University community. We will carry out this role in a manner that respects and protects the rights of all individuals to learn, create, grow, live, and work in an atmosphere of mutual respect. For us, "quality " not only reflects the kind of service we pledge to provide, but also describes the kind of life on campus we endeavor to protect.

Authority

Each of Connecticut’s 4-year universities has its own police department accountable to the president of each university.  Each of these police agencies is also empowered to act in the same capacity as municipal police departments and each maintains a well equipped and highly trained department that operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The officers in these police departments have the same legal authority granted to police officers across the state pertaining arrest, search and seizure.   For example, their authority with respect to minor crimes is generally limited to property owned or under the control of the University, while they may take police action anywhere within the state for serious crimes.  Accordingly, the services of the campus police mirror those provided in any community and include:

• Patrolling the University around the clock.

• Responding to a full range of emergency and routine calls for service

• Crime prevention/education activities

• Investigation of crimes on campus

• Enforcement of state criminal and motor vehicle laws, and campus regulations.

These police officers are also members of the administration at CCSU and thus also have authority to refer student misconduct to the Campus Judicial Coordinator.

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Personnel

The staff of the University Police consists of approximately 39 people, 25 of which are sworn police officers.  Full time and part time civilian employees provide support in such functions as administration, communications, security, parking enforcement and fleet management.

Selection and Training

All of our Police Officers are subject to the stringent requirements imposed upon all police officers in Connecticut.  To be selected, potential police officers must pass a written examination, an oral interview, a background investigation that includes a polygraph examination, psychological and drug screening, as well as a physical fitness evaluation.  Upon selection, recruits train with police recruits from municipalities across the State at the Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden.  The approximately 17-week basic training course is supplemented by at least 2 additional weeks of field training.  Once certified, officers must continue to undergo ongoing training in specified areas to maintain their certification.   Similarly, our Dispatchers must meet certification standards through training in the skills of managing a communications center.

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Facilities

The University Police Department is located at 1 Pikiell Drive (off Manafort Drive and number 29 on the University map) and is open 24 hours a day. The administrative services portion of the department is open from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.