Public Safety and Police Department

Police Authority

University of North Georgia Public Safety is a fully certified, state police agency. All officers employed by the university are equivalent to the police or sheriff deputies employed in any city. University police officers are authorized to make arrests for violations of state law and city ordinances, obtain and execute search warrants, and enforce traffic laws.

Jurisdiction

The jurisdiction of UNG Public Safety as defined by Georgia law is public or private property under control of the Board of Regents plus 500 yards. The officers can still operate beyond the 500 yard limit under the following conditions:

  1. The officers can leave their jurisdiction if they are in pursuit of an individual.
  2. The University has entered into mutual aid agreements with surrounding counties and municipalities. Under these agreements, University police officers can operate off campus when requested by other agencies to assist them.
  3. University police operate under the authority of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. As employees of the Board of Regents, the officers are authorized by law to serve on any campus under the Regents control and retain their full authority.

The UNG Public Safety Department has a strong working relationship with neighboring jurisdictions. On a regular basis, the departments share information and equipment, assist with investigations, and provide back-up when needed.

Uniform Patrol

The Public Safety and Police Department is on the job 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Whether on routine patrol, responding to emergencies, or simply providing campus information, our uniformed officers ensure our campuses are safe and civil. Patrol officers make up two-thirds of our personnel and perform several functions aimed at maintaining an environment conducive to learning and personal development. We strive to achieve this by patrolling the university community, traffic enforcement, and responding to calls for public assistance and welfare. Our officers also provide protection for visiting dignitaries that have included senators, congressmen, governors, and high ranking military officials. Patrol officers generally work in full uniform and operate in marked police vehicles.

In addition to patrolling the campus in traditional police vehicles, the patrol officers also utilizes foot patrols, bicycles and ATVs for general and targeted enforcement. These vehicles allow officers to patrol many areas of the university’s campus where patrol cars cannot.

Communications

The Communications Division is on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Communications officers monitor emergency telephone lines, police and fire radio frequencies, and a national/state crime information computer. Additionally, they provide access control systems to the campus and monitor the National Weather Service Radio—issuing severe weather alerts to our students and faculty/staff. Our communications officers have the responsibility of monitoring security cameras placed strategically throughout university buildings and their parking lots.  All video footage is recorded and can be accessed at any time for evidence purposes. 

Each communications officer undergoes extensive and continuous training to keep abreast of current technological and emergency communications techniques. The communications officer is often the first contact someone has with the department. They endeavor to listen effectively and quickly disseminate information to the appropriate field unit, departmental office, or other public safety agency. While we hope you never find yourself in need of emergency assistance, our communications officers welcome the opportunity to serve you.

Investigations

Investigators perform a wide variety of investigative and administrative functions to serve the University of North Georgia (UNG) community. Investigators routinely work with surrounding law enforcement agencies on multi-agency task forces in response to crimes that affect multiple communities. Our investigators have taken part in several successful task force investigations that culminated in violent offenders being taken into custody. From death investigations to parking lot accidents, Investigations has the responsibility and training to fully investigate all reported incidents. In recent years, we have successfully investigated all types of criminal complaints, including numerous cases of identity theft, theft by taking, sexual assaults, and computer related crimes involving the UNG community.

Striving for Excellence

Officers engage in a number of advanced and continuous training courses which enable them to remain at the forefront of the law enforcement profession. Each newly hired officer must be a state certified police officer with a minimum of two years prior experience. Once hired, officers undergo a rigorous field training program within the police department, which includes advanced certifications and training such as Radar and Intoxilizer Certifications, Standardized Field Sobriety training, Firearms Qualifications, and Defensive Tactics training. During the field training program, officers must familiarize themselves with the patrol rifle. All officers undergo annual Active Shooter Training in cooperation with local and state law enforcement agencies. 

Policies and Programs

Reporting Policy for Counselors

According to the clarification given in the 1998 amendments to 20 U.S.C. Section 1092 (f), Campus "Pastoral Counselors" and Campus "Professional Counselors", when acting as such, are not considered to be a campus security authority and are not required to report crimes for inclusion into the annual disclosure of crime statistics. As a matter of policy, they are encouraged, if and when they deem it appropriate, to inform persons being counseled of the procedures to report crimes on a voluntary basis for inclusion into the annual crime statistics.

The rulemaking committee defines counselors as:

Pastoral Counselor
An employee of an institution who is associated with a religious order or denomination, recognized by that religious order or denomination as someone who provides confidential counseling and who is functioning within the scope of that recognition as a pastoral counselor.
Professional Counselor
An employee of an institution whose official responsibilities include providing psychological counseling to members of the institution's community and who is functioning within the scope of his or her license or certification.