University Public Safety, Princeton Police update operating procedures
The Princeton University Department of Public Safety and the Princeton Police Department have updated an agreement on operating procedures that also outlines best practices and processes for enhancing collaboration between the departments to best serve the entire Princeton community.
"This agreement builds upon a long history of cooperation between the University's Department of Public Safety and the Princeton police," said Treby Williams, assistant vice president for safety and administrative planning at Princeton University. "Both departments are dedicated to the safety and security of the community and to a partnership characterized by mutual respect and effective teamwork."
Designed to provide additional mutual investigative support and increase the effectiveness of communication between the departments, the agreement clarifies existing procedures, outlines responsibilities and establishes a standardized process for collecting and sharing statistics. All responsibilities outlined in the agreement are consistent with the respective department's current operations. The departments will work together to leverage training program opportunities and coordinate joint efforts, taking advantage of shared resources between the departments.
"I feel we have developed a creative and effective model that maximizes the resources available to both departments," said Princeton Police Department Capt. Nicholas Sutter. "I also believe that this model may serve as an example to other communities around the nation dealing with 'town and gown' policing. Members of our community should be confident in the fact that both departments are dedicated to the service of our communities."
Paul Ominsky, executive director of the University's Department of Public Safety, said both departments will review the agreement regularly to determine if any changes are necessary to increase its effectiveness and better serve the community.
"We believe that working closely together is in the best interest of the community, and we look forward to maintaining our shared spirit of cooperation," Ominsky said. "Both departments have carefully thought about the way we can respond to provide the best law enforcement response.
