Harvard University Police Department Explained

Agency Name:Harvard University Police
Jurisdiction:All property owned or used by Harvard University
Employees:80+ Sworn Officers
Chief1 Name:Chief Victor Clay[1]
Website:Harvard University Police

The Harvard University Police Department (HUPD), a private police agency of Harvard University, is a full-service police department responsible for the safety and security of students, faculty, staff, and visitors at the university’s Cambridge and Boston campuses.  The HUPD’s chief of police, since April 27, 2021, is Victor Clay,[2] who succeeded long-time police chief Francis D. “Bud” Riley.[3] The chief performs his duties under the direction of the university’s general counsel,[4] Diane Lopez.[5]

Divisions

Law Enforcement Authority

All sworn members of the Harvard University Police Department are sworn as special state police officers under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 22C Section 63.[7] This gives them full powers of arrest in and upon all property owned or controlled by Harvard University.[8] Additionally, all officers hold commissions as deputy sheriffs for Middlesex County and Suffolk County, which gives them powers of arrest throughout Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston, where Harvard has facilities.

Police logs controversy

The HUPD has been the target of requests for greater transparency in the records it keeps or publishes about its officers’ actions.[9] [10] This culminated in The Harvard Crimson v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, et al. in 2003 where the Harvard student daily newspaper filed suit against HUPD in Massachusetts Superior Court.  The case was ultimately transferred to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court[11] and won by the University in January 2006.[12]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.hupd.harvard.edu/chiefs-greeting
  2. Web site: Newton . Jason . May 19, 2022 . Police chief recalls his first year of pandemic, progress . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230729024538/https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2022/05/harvard-police-chief-recalls-his-first-year-of-pandemic-progress/ . July 29, 2023 . December 29, 2023 . Harvard Gazette.
  3. http://www.hupd.harvard.edu/playing_it_safe/2007-2008_Playingitsafe.pdf Playing It Safe: A Guide for Keeping Safe at Harvard
  4. http://www.provost.harvard.edu/institutional_research/FACTBOOK_2007-08_FULL.pdf Harvard University Fact Book 2007-2008
  5. Web site: November 30, 2023 . Diane Lopez to retire as vice president, general counsel after 30 years . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231221202136/https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2023/11/diane-lopez-to-retire-as-vice-president-general-counsel/ . December 21, 2023 . December 29, 2023 . Harvard Gazette.
  6. http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=237789 Harvard Police Dept. May Reorganize Soon
  7. News: About. 2018-04-21. en.
  8. Web site: Section 63. malegislature.gov. 2018-04-21.
  9. http://www.splc.org/article/2003/12/police-at-3-private-universities-block-access-to-arrest-records Police at three private schools block access to police records
  10. http://www.splc.org/article/2003/12/police-at-3-private-universities-block-access-to-arrest-records Crime under wraps A look at why administrators at some prestigious schools are reluctant to give out incident reports
  11. Harvard Crimson, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College, et al., No. SJC-09434, Full text (2006). Findlaw.com. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
  12. http://www.splc.org/newsflash.asp?id=1159 Harvard campus police reports not subject to open records law, court rules

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