Jurisdiction
University Police Officers
University Policing is a skilled profession that balances the special needs of an educational environment with those of law, order, and the application of criminal justice. While service and education is a mainstay of campus law enforcement, University Police Officers are trained and equipped to handle criminal activity just as their county and municipal counterparts.
The University of Houston-Clear Lake Police Department is a full service law enforcement agency focused on serving the UHCL community. University of Houston-Clear Lake Police Officers are fully empowered state peace officers commissioned under the authority of the State of Texas Education Code Section 51.203. The primary jurisdiction of a University Police Officer includes all counties in which the University owns, leases, rents, or otherwise maintains control of property. Within this primary jurisdiction, a University Police Officer:
- Is vested with all powers, privileges, and immunities of a Texas peace officer.
- May arrest without warrant any person who violates a law of the state.
- May enforce all traffic laws on streets and highways.
Outside of a University Police Officer’s primary jurisdiction, the officer maintains the vested powers, privileges and immunities of a Texas peace officer and may arrest any person who violates any state law if the officer:
- Is summoned by another law enforcement agency to provide assistance.
- Is assisting another law enforcement agency.
- Is otherwise performing his/her duties as a police officer for the institution of higher education that employs the officers.
All University Police Officers must:
- Take and file the oath of office with the State of Texas
- Be a certified police officer under the requirements of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officers and Standards.
Texas Education Code Section 51.203:http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/ED/htm/ED.51.htm#51.203