Kaine signs college campus safety law
Bill attempts to strengthen campus law enforcement
By Jackie Cole, staff writer
Posted on April 13, 2006

A new campus safety law passed last week in Virginia by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine will focus on creating a centralized college law enforcement office.

The Daily News-Record reported the College Law Enforcement Center will “set standards for campus police departments.” The bill, also aims at strengthening campus police, increasing accountability and empowering college communities. The campus safety law will be effective this summer and the office will have until July 2007 to set standards.

Confident in safety practices of JMU, some officials believe that bill will act as reinforcement of an already efficient campus safety system. As reported in The Daily News Record, JMU spokesperson Andy Perrine said, “A lot of the work has already been done, but we’re always looking to get better.”

JMU Chief of Police Lee Shifflett agrees.

“I believe that this new legislation re-enforces what we have been doing for years and that is providing a professional law enforcement service that truly understands what ‘serve and protect’ means and also nuances associated with a campus community.”

On campus, the police are optimistic about the future of the bill. Shifflett welcomes the new legislation.

“I believe in the new legislation. It will provide campus law enforcement officers training specific to our environment.”

Shifflett said campus police officers have to be trained in every way a municipal officer is. Many  of JMU’s officers worked in municipal police departments or sheriffs departments prior to working at JMU.

It takes about 12 to 18 months on the job training to become an effective campus officer, even with five to 10 years experience in a municipal setting.

Kaine’s bill includes funding for the creation of the Campus Law Enforcement Center in the Department of Criminal Justice Services.

As indicated by the nonprofit organization, Virginia21, goals of the Center include: setting principles for hiring staff, training and certification standards for campus police and security departments, generating policy and procedure ideas for campus law enforcement offices, and helping college security and police departments implement these goals efficiently.

JMU provides full-service police protection to the campus community through its Office of Public Safety.

Out of a group of 30 sworn and commissioned police officers, all have comprehensive arrest powers.

There are 19 full-time and five part-time officers in uniform who patrol the campus and residence hall areas 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

With the new legislation, public universities across Virginia are required to strive for all 27 best practices.

Officer Shifflett has expressed that JMU met and exceeded 25 of the 27 best practices.

“I believe this legislation will only ensure that each university community is receiving the service that they deserve.”