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Daemen College Campus Safety Officers have the authority to ask persons for identification and to determine whether individuals have lawful business at Daemen College. They do not possess arrest power. Criminal incidents are referred to the Amherst Police Department. Daemen College Campus Safety and Amherst Police maintain a highly professional working relationship. All crime victims and witnesses are strongly encouraged to immediately report the crime to the Office of Campus Safety as well as to Amherst Police. Prompt reporting will assure timely warning notices of on-campus incidents and timely disclosure of crime statistics.
All Campus Safety personnel (contracted and Daemen employed) must adhere to New York State law, and the more restrictive Daemen College policies, as well as the company policy of the contractor (Amherst Security Professionals), with regards to the use of force and powers of arrest.
Under certain circumstances, New York State Penal Law authorizes the use of force and the authority to make an arrest. It is the policy of Daemen College that Campus Safety officers will only use physical force or make an arrest to prevent harm to themselves or to students, staff and faculty. The policies of Daemen College as it applies to the use of force and authority to arrest cannot be less restrictive than New York State Law.
The role of the Campus Safety Officer is to defuse a situation verbally to prevent any sort of physical altercation. Campus Safety Officers are equipped with specialized training to restrain an individual physically if they present a harm to themselves or others. Supervisors carry handcuffs and are trained in the proper use of them.
If and only if a Campus Safety Officer reasonably believes that the actions, or words, of a person places a student, staff or faculty member in imminent physical danger, then the lowest level of force necessary to prevent harm and remove the threat would be permitted.
If a Campus Safety Officer reasonably believes that the actions, or words, of a person creates a significant disruption to normal campus business or activity in a specific location, then the lowest level of force necessary to prevent harm and remove the threat would be permitted.
Individuals who are intoxicated or under the influence of another substance should be treated with care and restrained from hurting themselves, others, and/or the physical property of the campus. Here again, the lowest level of force necessary to prevent harm and remove the threat would be permitted.