Hanover Police Chief Charlie Dennis said late last week that he has been encouraging a preexisting policy under which officers issue students a summons and turn them over to Dartmouth Safety and Security instead of arresting and processing students at the police station. Since he became chief in June, he has been evaluating police proceedings, and put in place a new policy starting Jan. 1 where Hanover Police will only be involved in the transport of intoxicated students from Dick’s House to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center if they are requested.
Dennis said that police officers are encouraged to use discretion when determining whether or not students should be taken into custody, depending on the seriousness of the incident. In most cases, even when arrested, Hanover Police contacts Safety and Security, director of Safety and Security Harry Kinne said, noting the “collaborative” relationship between the two.
“If two underage students were found out on the Green and had been drinking but were not committing any harm, we could have the option of releasing them to [Safety and Security],” Dennis said.
International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators president David Perry said that issuing a summons for an alcohol violation is “a common practice on most college and university campuses.” He noted that students must verify their affiliation with the institution and that they have not violated any other institution policies.
The use of officer discretion allows them to respond quickly to other emergencies, Dennis said.
“Every time you take someone into physical custody you have to process them and you’re taking that officer off the street and they aren’t able to respond to other 911 calls that are coming in,” Dennis said.
Kinne said that in the case of a summons, Safety and Security will likely receive students earlier and can provide them with medical assistance quickly if needed.
Dennis said that the discretionary policy aims to protect the safety of students and have a positive effect on the community at large.
“It could make better use of our time,” Dennis said.
Perry echoed Dennis’ view on the policy’s benefits.
“It’s not as time-consuming, not as traumatic of a process,” Perry said.
Kinne said that the policy shift will encourage students to “not hesitate” to use the Good Samaritan policy. “If anything, it will be more likely that students will feel more comfortable in calling for assistance when someone else needs it,” Kinne said.
He added that he thinks that Dennis’s “bottom line” is to ensure students get the help they need.
Dennis said he is unsure if students will change their behavior in response to the discretionary procedure because it is not a new policy. Dennis hopes the college and community can continue to develop a positive relationship with the Hanover Police department.
“Generally, when the police are called, someone is not having a good day,” he said.
He said he hopes that in the future the community will interact with police not only in times of emergency. For example, Dennis said he would like the College to host the next Coffee with a Cop. Coffee with a Cop is a national initiative that aims to build relationships between police officers and civilians in a safe environment, according to its website.
In 2013, the most recent year with available data, there were 100 liquor law arrests and 243 liquor law violations were referred for disciplinary action, according to the 2014 annual security and fire safety report. In 2012 there were 16 arrests and 83 referred cases, and in 2011 there were 40 arrests and 12 referred cases. In 2013, Dartmouth began counting “referrals for alcohol education” in “referrals for disciplinary action” and Hanover Police’s referrals to alcohol diversions programs in lieu of arrests as “liquor law arrests,” so the large increase between 2012 and 2013 can mainly be attributed to the change in recording rather than a change in student behavior, according to the report.
Of eight students interviewed, seven said they preferred the shift away from arrests.
“College students will appreciate the increased flexibility and more power of discretion,” Radheshwar Arora ’18 said.
Margaret Rollins ’15 said that she thinks a summons is an appropriate response to underage drinking, while an arrest is unfair. “I think that it’s kind of unnecessary to arrest someone or put them in jail for such a minor crime,” Rollins said. “It takes away resources, it’s using a lot of energy from the cops and I think that puts an unrealistic expectation on underage students on campus.”
Savannah Moss ’18 said that students are afraid of Hanover Police and seem to think more positively about Safety and Security.
Calandra Jones ’15 said that students are “demonized” by Hanove Police more than they are by Safety and Security.
“I think they definitely see us as a nuisance to the town and definitely see us as the main perpetrators of any petty crimes that go on in Hanover and thus we become targeted.”
Erin Lee contributed reporting.
