Campus Police

Chattanooga State cares about the security of everyone who uses our campus and is committed to providing a safe environment. In this spirit, we have engaged a professional and well-trained Police Department. The Chattanooga State Police Department (CSPD) is an independent police agency recognized as such by the FBI and State of Tennessee. The department currently employs 8 full-time officers, and 12 security officers. The department operates 24 hours a day. Officers of the Police Department determine the appropriate response for all requests for assistance. Also utilized when requested, are officers from the Chattanooga Police Department, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department and other law enforcement agencies.

The CSPD is responsible for ensuring that a safe and secure environment exists in order to support the College's educational mission. CSPD provides services to the campus community in a respectful, knowledgeable, and skillful manner, with the highest standards of ethics, accountability, dignity, equity and fairness.

All members of the Campus Police Department are entitled to the cooperation and respect of all individuals on campus. Campus Police may request that persons on Chattanooga State property identify themselves by name and address, present an identification card, and indicate what connection they have with the College or campus. For persons who are not members of the ChattState community and have no legitimate business on campus, Campus Police may require that they leave the campus.

Students, faculty, staff, and guests are encouraged to immediately report all criminal actions and emergencies on campus to CSPD. Public access telephones are available specifically for emergency use at various locations around campus. Additionally, the campus community is encouraged to call CSPD for assistance with first aid in minor medical situations. Campus Police officers have received CPR certification and defibrillator training. If the designated officers are not available or the situation is an acute emergency, outside emergency help may be requested by calling 9-911 from on-campus phones or 911 from non-campus phones. If 911 is called, the ill/injured individual is responsible for all fees.

Generally, the campus is closed after 10:30 p.m. Should a special group have permission to be on campus after that time, the group’s supervisor is responsible for implementing emergency procedures.

Public Officers may exercise their authority on all property or facilities owned, leased or operated by the Tennessee Board of Regents and the university including any public roads or rights of way which are contiguous to or within the perimeter of such facilities or property.

Police Officers are commissioned pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated, 49-7-118, and to Tennessee Board of Regents Policy No. 5:01:07:00. Commissioned Public Officers, pursuant to Tennessee Board of Regents Policy, have all of the police powers necessary to enforce all state laws as well as rules and regulations of the Tennessee Board of Regents and Chattanooga State Community College. All officers have graduated from a fully accredited law enforcement training academy and are required to meet all minimum standards set forth for police officers by the State of Tennessee. The department also provides continuing education for its officers in excess of what is required by these minimum standards. Their training (pursuant to Tennessee Board of Regents Guideline No. P-100) meets the requirements of the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission. The Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training commission Rules mandate a Basic Police Course (Chapter 1110-2-.03, Candidate Certification Requirements) and an approved 40 hour in-service training session (Chapter 1110-4, In service Training Requirement) each calendar year.

Policy Statement Regarding the Possession and Use of Weapons By Security Personnel and Any Other Person

ChSCC Public Officers are authorized to carry firearms, pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated 49-7-118(c).ChSCC Police Officers are authorized to use necessary force, including deadly force, to protect themselves or other persons from death or serious bodily harm. Officers’ duty weapons are issued by ChSCC Police Department. All Police Officers meet the firearms proficiency standards required by the Tennessee P.O.S.T. Commission.
Non-law enforcement personnel are strictly prohibited from carrying weapons on campus.
Lethal weapons of any kind, most notably firearms and knives, are prohibited on the ChSCC campus. The penalty for possession of deadly weapons is enhanced by State law to a FELONY if that possession takes place on campus.
Possession of firearms (or other statutorily defined weapons) on campus is prohibited pursuant to TCA 39-17-1309 and subject to the exceptions contained therein and to the affirmative defenses enumerated in TCA 39-17-1310. Similarly, the General Regulations on Student Conduct and Disciplinary sanctions prohibit the possession or use of any unauthorized firearm or dangerous weapon of any kind.
The possession and use of firearms by anyone other than ChSCC Police personnel is prohibited except for those exceptions specified by the TCA 39-6-1718. All instances of use of a police firearm (including violation of policy, accidental discharge, as well as any authorized discharge) shall be reported immediately to the Chief of Police. All instances of firearm use will be investigated.
As stated in the ChSCC Students’ Rights & Responsibilities Handbook: “The possession or use of firearms, slingshots, paint ball guns, “super soakers,” explosives, fireworks, inflammable fluids, dangerous chemical mixtures, pellet guns, B.B. guns, propelled missiles, or ammunition (which includes but is not limited to bullets, paint balls, pellets, and B.B.s) and illegal drugs or paraphernalia are prohibited.

Working Relationship of Campus Police Personnel with State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies

ChSCC Police Department has a close working relationship with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies including the City of Chattanooga Police Department and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. Assistance from the Chattanooga Police Department and the HamiltonCounty Sheriff’s Office is utilized when required. Also, assistance from other local, state, and federal agencies, including other law enforcement agencies, is requested as required.

Policy on Reporting Criminal Incidents to State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies

ChSCC Police Department will actively investigate any crime information it receives concerning or involving a member of the campus community or it will supply information regarding the incident as needed or required to local, state or federal law enforcement authorities.
In addition to the requirements of the Clery Act, ChSCC Police Department forwards a monthly report to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation of crimes that occur within our campus community. Each year the Bureau takes these monthly reports and publishes a compilation from all institutions of higher education in Tennessee.

Monitoring & Recording Criminal Activity Off-Campus

A policy concerning the monitoring and recording, through local police agencies, of criminal activity in which students engaged at off-campus locations of student organizations officially recognized by the institution, including student organizations:
Any monitoring of crime off-campus is done by the agency of jurisdiction where the crime took place.
Local law enforcement agencies have been requested to forward copies of their reports of all criminal activity occurring on off campus properties belonging to campus affiliated organizations recognized by ChSCC.

Monitoring & Recording Criminal Activity at Off-Campus Organizations

The College relies on its working relationships with the local law enforcement agencies to receive information about incidents involving students off campus. ChSCC Police Department will cooperate with local law enforcement to investigate any crime information received concerning or involving a member of the campus community or it will supply information regarding the incident as needed or required to local, state or federal law enforcement authorities.

Related Information

The Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act (2000) is federal legislation that requires all sex offenders who must register with the State to also provide notice of enrollment or employment at any institution of higher education. Upon notification to the State, the TN Bureau of Investigation alerts the Chattanooga State Police Department. See the TBI website for more information.