AUGUST 27, 1998-vol30n1: Law expands jurisidiction of public-safety officers

VOLUME 30, NUMBER 1 THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 1998

Law expands jurisidiction of public-safety officers

By Sue Wuetcher
News Services Associate Director

UB public-safety officers will have the same status as municipal police officers when they venture off campus, thanks to a bill recently signed into law by Gov. George Pataki. Effective Jan. 1, the new law expands the jurisdiction of 504 SUNY officers on 27 campuses-who presently are limited to campus properties and adjoining roadways-and changes their status from "peace officers" to "police officers."

John Grela, director of public safety, said the new law "provides indemnification for officers when they operate off campus." As "peace officers," SUNY public-safety officers have many of the same duties as police officers, such as making warrantless arrests and issuing traffic tickets, when operating within their jurisdiction. But they revert to the status of a private citizen when they leave campus, he added. With the new status, public-safety officers will have the same status as other municipal police officers when they leave their jurisdiction.

Grela noted that public-safety officers legally will be allowed to pursue criminal investigations off campus and assist local police forces. Officers also are given the power of to "pat down" suspects during interrogation stops when there is reason to believe they may be carrying weapons and the power to execute search and arrest warrants, and transport persons to mental-health facilities.

The new law "will make our job easier," particularly in pursuing investigations that lead off campus, Grela said. He added that geographically, public safety's area of jurisdiction will remain the North and South campuses. "We won't be patrolling University Heights or Amherst," he said.