Expanding police forces in Big 12 schools

Requiremens to join campus police vary across the Big 12.

By Grace Clarke

Published June 6, 2007

Since the 1960s, the University of Missouri Police Department has worked to ensure "a peaceful quality of life and a supporting and safe learning environment," according to the MUPD Web site.

"I've been really impressed," MU sophomore Zack Stoller said. "(University police) made themselves extremely available when (the National Socialist Movement) was here."

The National Socialist Movement, a neo-Nazi group, held a 45-minute march through downtown Columbia earlier this year to protest what they claimed were the Marxist teachings of the School of Journalism.

As events such as the march have shown, being an MU police officer comes with heavy demands.

The standards among Big 12 officer requirements are a minimum of 21 years of age, a high school diploma or equivalency test, a valid driver's license and a felony-free background check.

Kansas University also requires United States citizenship as a requirement for employment. MUPD could not be reached to discuss extra training programs.

"Felony convictions and being a non-US citizen is pretty difficult," Kansas University Police Maj. Chris Kerry said. "But we're always accepting applications until we have enough to build an eligible pool (of candidates)."

The University of Colorado at Boulder Police Department takes prerequisites to a heightened level.

Police hopefuls must have at least two years of college education, no alcohol-related offenses in the last three years and a Colorado peace officer certification pre-application.

"Entry levels require a current post certification and one year of law enforcement," said Ann Shimamoto, senior human resources consultant at the University of Colorado system. "All our employees are hired by the state, so corporal, sergeant and deputy positions require much more."

University of Colorado officer Brad Weasley said he has a personal approach to recruiting and hiring.

"As an officer on a campus, you have got to be able to work with people of various backgrounds," Weasley said. "I've never met as many people from different countries, cultures or backgrounds as I have on campus. It's truly a melting pot."

The University of Texas Police Department requires the most from its officers including attendance at the University of Texas System Police Academy. The 884-hour program includes classroom instruction and hands-on experience in simulated crime scenes, shoot-don't-shoot scenarios and bomb raids.

"We didn't make up the program, but we put it on," said Sgt. Laura Davis, recruiter for the University of Texas Police Department. "It's required by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. We start our officers on a six-month program in January, they graduate in June and spend the rest of the year on field assignment."

Like Texas, most campuses' police officers are hired by the university's human resources department but are accredited through the state and in accordance with its laws.

MUPD is also recruiting event staff supplemental officers, whose duties include directing traffic and parking, and crowd control at all home football games.

Weasley said he understands the demands of working on a college campus.

"It's not for everyone, and we prefer at least two years of higher ed experience," he said. "After all, you wouldn't want to go to a doctor that hasn't been to medical school."