Campus Police Authority and Jurisdiction
Saint Xavier University provides a professional Public Safety Department to serve its students, faculty and staff. The Department of Public Safety is committed to the highest quality of protective services in order to maintain and improve our unique educational environment and quality of life. The goal of the Department of Public Safety is to provide professional responses to all safety and service-oriented requests from the campus community.
The University is patrolled 24 hours a day by Public Safety security officers using vehicles equipped with a mobile computer and emergency response equipment. Our regular patrols are augmented during the academic year by student walk and bicycle patrol officers.
The Department of Public Safety is involved in a multi-year process of transitioning a number of security officer positions to state-certified police officers. Sworn members of the University Police Division will possess the same authority as municipal peace officers and county sheriffs.
Officers are responsible for observing, reporting and taking appropriate actions in all instances of criminal and suspicious activities. They are also responsible for detecting and reporting fire and safety hazards, as well as implementing evacuation procedures.
The department is responsible for maintaining the University's emergency operation center, as well as the facilities for radio communications and implementation of contingency alert plans when conditions warrant. Protective escorts, battery jumps and vehicle lockout assistance, anywhere on campus, are also provided by Public Safety. Assistance can be obtained by using one of the red, yellow or gray public safety phones located in the parking lots and throughout campus. In the event of an injury or illness, officers will coordinate emergency medical/first-aid treatment and transportation with the Chicago Fire Department paramedics.
For emergency service, call the Department of Public Safety at ext. 3-911 or the Chicago Police Department at 9-911.
Public Safety Administrative Office hours are:
Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Pursuant to the authority of the Illinois Private College Campus Police Act, contained in Chapter 110, Section 1020 of the Illinois Complied Statutes, members of the campus police department shall have the powers of municipal peace officers and county sheriffs, including the power to make arrests under the circumstances prescribed in Section 107/2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, as amended, for violations of state statutes, municipal or county ordinances, provided, however, that such powers may be exercised only on college or university property, for the protection of students, employees, visitors and their property, and the property of the college or university, unless otherwise authorized by a county or municipality.
Any police officer employed by a law enforcement agency of this State may conduct temporary questioning and may make arrests in any jurisdiction within this State if:
- the officer is engaged in the investigation of an offense that has occurred in the jurisdiction in which the officer is employed, and the temporary questioning is conducted or the arrest is made pursuant to that investigation.
- the officer, while on duty as a police officer, becomes personally aware of the immediate commission of a felony or misdemeanor violation of the laws of this State.
In cases of minor violations of state statute, city and county ordinances, or University rules, regulations or policies, campus police or security officers may, in addition to, or in lieu of criminal charges, refer violators to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action under the Code of Student Conduct.
Any failure to appear as requested for a student conduct proceeding or failure to comply with any imposed sanctions or restrictions, may result in the direct filing of criminal charges with the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Through coordination with local law enforcement agencies, any criminal activity engaged in by students at off-campus locations, is monitored and recorded. This information is provided to the Dean of Students for any action or follow-up that may be required.
Criminal Charges filed by Saint Xavier University Police Officers are heard in in the First Municipal District (City of Chicago) of the Circuit Court of Cook County, in Chicago. Failure to appear in court will result in the judge issuing a bond forfeiture arrest warrant.