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Campus Safety and Policing

The Campus Safety and Policing workstream released its final report in February 2021.

Workstream:

Campus Safety and Policing

Background:

The Working Group on Campus Safety and Policing is one of several workstreams within Tufts’ strategic priority to become an anti-racist institution. Over the last year, under the leadership of our Interim Chief, Chip Coletta, the Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) has engaged Margolis Healy, a leading national consultancy for campus safety, to assess all aspects of the TUPD operation. Many actions have already been taken to strengthen the department in key areas such as policies and procedures, training, recruiting, partnership with key university departments, and community engagement. The Working Group now has the opportunity to build on this work and develop a clear strategic direction for the department, with clear organizational expectations, that can then be implemented by a new, permanent chief.

Leaders:

Mike Howard, Executive Vice President (Co-Chair)
Rob Mack, Associate Provost and Chief Diversity Officer (Co-Chair)

Members:

  • Sarah Biggers, Associate Director of Continuing Education, SMFA/University College
  • Alida Bogran-Acosta, OEO Investigator, Office of Equal Opportunity
  • Nandi Bynoe, Associate Dean of Diversity and Inclusion, AS&E
  • Kristopher Crawford, D22
  • Moses Curry, Police Sergeant, Public Safety
  • Rocco DiRrico, Executive Director of Government and Community Relations, University Relations
  • Dana Fleming, Associate General Counsel, University Counsel
  • Hope Freeman, Director of LGBT Center and Ad Interim Director, Women's Center
  • Jaime Givens, A23
  • John-Mark Gladstone, F21
  • Maren Greathouse, Associate Director of, Diversity and Inclusion Education, Medford/SMFA Campuses
  • Nicole Holland, Director of Health Communication, Education, and Promotion, Dental School
  • Mike Howard (Co-chair), Executive Vice President
  • Kalimah Knight, Deputy Director of Public Relations, Communications, and Marketing
  • Camille Lizarribar, Dean of Student Affairs, AS&E
  • Rob Mack (Co-chair), Chief Diversity Officer of Medford/Somerville/SMFA campuses, Associate Provost
  • Shirley Mark, Director of Community Partnerships, Tisch College
  • Joe McManus, Executive Associate Dean, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
  • Colin Simmons, Sr. Capital Project Manager, Construction
  • Sam Sommers, Professor, Department of Psychology, A&S
  • Barb Stein, Vice President, Operations
  • Eric T. Lin, D23
  • Lidya Woldeyesus, A22

The Charge:

To advise the President and Tufts’ administration, the Working Group:

  • Evaluated the suitability of Tufts’ current campus safety and policing operating model in the evolving wider context of anti-racism and police reform.
  • Recommended changes to our current model that will better ensure the safety and well-being of our community members and make it fully consistent with our core values.
  • Identified specific actions that can be taken that will have an immediate, positive effect on our community, and build momentum toward our long-term objectives and strategy.
  • Developed a framework and structure for ensuring that our campus safety and policing functions remain responsive to the needs of our community, aligned with the University’s core values, and provide the accountability and transparency needed to maintain the trust and support of the Tufts community.

Key Questions Addressed:

  • What does safety mean for our community members?
  • What are the main functions that need to be performed to create a safe environment on our campuses?
  • How and by whom should these safety functions be performed?
  • What functions must be performed by sworn law enforcement officers?
  • Do officers need to be armed to keep our community safe?

The Working Group:

  • Used this process to expand discussion of these complex, critical issues to include all members of the community.
  • Created a mechanism to allow community members to contribute their experiences and suggestions.
  • Leveraged existing research and innovative practices to inform this work.
  • Committed itself to transparency and regular communications on the progress of the working group.