Public Safety

Kirkwood Public Safety officers patrol the campus, respond to emergencies and other calls for service, conduct traffic checks on campus, walk through the campus buildings, staff special events, and facilitate a variety of safety and security presentations.

Kirkwood Public Safety officers may ask persons for identification to determine whether individuals have legitimate business at the college. Public Safety officers have the authority to investigate minor offenses involving rule violations and to make a referral to the appropriate area of the college. Public Safety officers do not possess arrest powers and do not carry firearms. Criminal incidents are referred to the local police who have jurisdiction on campus.

Services

Public Safety works closely with local, state, and federal police agencies. Through coordination with local law enforcement agencies, criminal activity engaged in by students at off-campus locations is monitored and recorded. This information is referred to the appropriate area of the college.

Services offered include:

• 24-hour, 365 days a year campus services.
• Enforcement of college, as well as local, state, & federal laws and regulations.
• Investigative reports and criminal investigation.
• Escorts for students, faculty, and staff.
• Unlocking and jump-starting of vehicles on campus.
• Reporting and resolution of environmental safety issues, exterior lighting, signage, and other physical hazards.
• Monitoring and enforcement of driving regulations.
• Blue Light Emergency Phones located throughout the main campus. 
• Safety and security presentations, including topics such as personal safety and alcohol and drug abuse.

Escorts

It is a good idea to use an escort service, particularly when walking on campus during hours of darkness. Escorts can be arranged by calling 319-398-7777, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Firearms
Firearms or weapons of any kind are not allowed on campus. Weapons come in many forms; the following items are examples of items that are prohibited on campus:

• Pistol, revolver, or any weapon designed or intended to propel a missile of any kind (this includes airsoft, paintball, BB or pellet guns, potato guns, and other such homemade devices)
• Knife having a blade of two or more inches
• Straight-edge razor or razor blade
• Spring stick
• Bat, club, or other bludgeon-type weapon
• Nun chahka, nun chuck, nunchaku, shuriken
• Throwing star or oriental dart
• Stun gun or taser

The possession of a valid firearms permit or valid license to carry does not exempt students or staff from the provisions of this policy.

Policy Statement

According to a federal law known as the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistic Act, the “Clery” or “Campus Security” Act requires Kirkwood to disclose “statistics concerning the occurrence of certain criminal offenses reported to local law enforcement agencies or any official of the institution who is defined as a ‘Campus Security Authority.’

Reason for Policy

This policy is to define who is considered a Campus Security Authority and the responsibilities.

The Policy

The law defines “Campus Security Authority” as: An official of the institution who has significant responsibility for student and campus activities, including but not limited to, student housing, student discipline and campus judicial proceedings.”

Individuals with significant responsibilities for student and campus activities would include:

• The dean of students
• Student center
• Individuals responsible for extracurricular activities and would be considered Campus Security Authority employees
• Director of athletics, a coach, or a faculty advisor to a student group

A single teaching faculty member or clerical staff is unlikely to have significant responsibility for student and campus activities except when serving as an advisor to a student group and would not be considered a Campus Security Authority.

A pastoral or licensed professional counselor must be acting in the role of pastoral or professional counselor, and functioning within the scope of his or her license to be exempt from disclosing reported offenses. 

Criminal Offenses and Reporting 

If an employee observes any crime listed below, or if any person reveals to that: he/she learned of, or were a victim of, the perpetrator of, or a witness to any crime listed below, immediately notify Campus Security. 

Do not investigate or attempt to determine whether a crime actually took place. Appropriate Kirkwood personnel may later contact the employee to gather additional information. 

Criminal offenses that must be reported are:

• Murder
• Manslaughter, non-negligent and negligent
• Sex offenses, forcible or non-forcible
• Robbery
• Aggravated assaults
• Burglary
• Motor vehicle theft
• Arson
• Liquor law violation
• Drug abuse violations
• Weapons - carrying, possessing etc.

Kirkwood is also required to report bias related (hate) crimes for the above as well as:

• Larceny-theft
• Vandalism
• Intimidation
• Simple assault
• Damage/destruction/ of property

The following are also required to be reported:

• Domestic violence
• Dating violence
• Stalking

Kirkwood is required to disclose statistics for offenses that occur on campus, in non-campus buildings, or on property owned or controlled by Kirkwood, and public property within or immediately adjacent to campus. 

Kirkwood is required to report crimes under the Act that occur in the privately owned apartment complexes around campus, depending upon how Kirkwood interacts with the apartments. Examples of privately owned apartments are Kirkwood Village and Kirkwood Courts. 

More Reporting Details

If an employee is in any doubt as to whether a crime is reportable, the employee must err on the side of reporting. It does not matter whether an arrest is made. For purposes of reporting, assume that a hate crime is any crime which shows evidence that the victim was selected because of the victim’s actual or perceived race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, ethnicity/national origin, or disability.

The Campus Security or Clery Act applies to crimes on any Kirkwood location (Main Campus, Iowa City, Linn Regional, KTOS, KCETC, Belle Plaine, Jones Regional, Johnson County, Tipton, Vinton, Washington, Williamsburg, etc.), public properties adjacent (streets and sidewalks) to each of these campuses, and locations where other college activities are taking place.

Kirkwood has a responsibility to notify the campus community about any crimes which pose an ongoing threat to the community. Campus Security Authorities are obligated by law to report crimes to Kirkwood Campus Security. Employees should notify Campus Security immediately if a threat or perceived threat exists or if they are unsure of the situation.

References

• Campus Security Authority Training Video -Campus Security Authority (required viewing)
• Annual Security Report

If you believe the Kirkwood violation notice you have received is incorrect, you may submit an appeal. Appeals must be submitted within 48 hours of the violation notice being issued.

Please submit the appeal form online. If you have further questions, call 319-398-5561. The appeal will be reviewed by the Violation Appeals Committee, comprised of a student representative, faculty representative, staff representative, and a Campus Security representative.

The Violation Appeals Committee Decision Process

The Violation Appeals Committee meets monthly. After submitting the appeal, you will be notified of the date & time of the next meeting. You are not required to attend the meeting, however it is your right to appeal your ticket in person, if you wish.

Within two weeks of the meeting, your appeal will be sent back to you with the decision. The decision of the Violations Appeals Committee is final. The fee must be paid within 10 days of the decision.

Campus Sexual Assault Victim Bill of Rights (Clery Act)

• Reasonable changes to academic and living conditions
• Referrals to counseling assistance in notifying law enforcement
• Same opportunity as accused to have others present at disciplinary hearing
• Notified of outcome of hearing, sanctions and terms of sanctions in place
• Speak (or choose not to speak) to anyone regarding the outcome
• Name and identifying information kept confidential (FERPA)