The Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) is a private police agency affiliated with Harvard University, a private Ivy League university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is a full-service police department responsible for the safety and security of Harvard students, faculty, staff, and visitors at the university's Cambridge and Boston campuses.
Since April 2021, Victor Clay is HUPD's chief of police, who succeeded long-time chief Francis D. “Bud” Riley.Playing It Safe: A Guide for Keeping Safe at Harvard Harvard Univ. Police Dep’t, 2007–2008, (Cambridge: HUPD, 2007) The chief performs his duties under the direction of the university's general counsel,Harvard University Fact Book 2007-2008 Harvard Univ. Office of Budgets, Fin. Planning & Inst’l Research, (2007) Diane Lopez.
Divisions
Criminal Investigation Division Dignitary Protection UnitHarvard Police Dept. May Reorganize Soon Patrol DivisionJoshua A. Gerstein, Harv. Crimson, Oct. 2, 1990, online ed., para. 3
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. This gives them full powers of arrest in and upon all property owned or controlled by Harvard University. 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 HUPD has been the target of requests for greater transparency in the records it keeps or publishes about its officers’ actions.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.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.
In 2003, The Harvard Crimson, the undergraduate student newspaper, filed suit against HUPD in Massachusetts Superior Court. In January 2006, the case, The Harvard Crimson v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, et al, which was transferred to Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court,Harvard Crimson, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College, et al., No. SJC-09434, Full text (2006). Findlaw.com. Retrieved 2007-08-29. was won by the university.Harvard campus police reports not subject to open records law, court rules (2006-01-13). Student Press Law Center. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
References
External links
Official website