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Harvard University Police Department

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Coordinates: 42°22′08.20″N 71°06′43.86″W / 42.3689444°N 71.1121833°W / 42.3689444; -71.1121833
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Harvard University Police
Agency overview
JurisdictionAll property owned or used by Harvard University
Employees80+ Sworn Officers
Agency executive
  • Chief Victor Clay[1]
WebsiteHarvard 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[edit]

  • Patrol Division
  • Criminal Investigation Division
  • Dignitary Protection Unit[6]

Law Enforcement Authority[edit]

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.[7]

Police logs controversy[edit]

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[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ https://www.hupd.harvard.edu/chiefs-greeting
  2. ^ Newton, Jason (May 19, 2022). "Police chief recalls his first year of pandemic, progress". Harvard Gazette. Archived from the original on July 29, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  3. ^ Playing It Safe: A Guide for Keeping Safe at Harvard Harvard Univ. Police Dep’t, 2007–2008, (Cambridge: HUPD, 2007)
  4. ^ Harvard University Fact Book 2007-2008 Harvard Univ. Office of Budgets, Fin. Planning & Inst’l Research, (2007)
  5. ^ "Diane Lopez to retire as vice president, general counsel after 30 years". Harvard Gazette. November 30, 2023. Archived from the original on December 21, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  6. ^ Harvard Police Dept. May Reorganize Soon Joshua A. Gerstein, Harv. Crimson, Oct. 2, 1990, online ed., para. 3
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "About". Retrieved 2018-04-21.
  8. ^ "Section 63". malegislature.gov. Retrieved 2018-04-21.
  9. ^ Police at three private schools block access to police records (Winter 2003-04, XXV, No. 1, P.17 ). Student Press Law Center. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
  10. ^ Crime under wraps A look at why administrators at some prestigious schools are reluctant to give out incident reports (Winter 2005-06, XXVII, No. 1, P.33 ). Student Press Law Center. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
  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. ^ Harvard campus police reports not subject to open records law, court rules Archived 2007-08-08 at the Wayback Machine(2006-01-13). Student Press Law Center. Retrieved 2007-08-29.

External links[edit]

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42°22′08.20″N 71°06′43.86″W / 42.3689444°N 71.1121833°W / 42.3689444; -71.1121833

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