Enforcement Authority
The Department of Public Safety enforces the Massachusetts General Laws and protects life and property on campus by providing law enforcement and security and by responding to emergencies. Charged with protecting the rights of all members of the College community, officers are authorized under Massachusetts General Law 22C, Section 63, to enforce federal and state laws and have the power to arrest, just like any other police force in Massachusetts.
The Mount Holyoke College Department of Public Safety has back-up aid from, and telephone and radio contact with the South Hadley Police Department. The South Hadley Police are notified of any major incidents that occur on campus. Under Massachusetts law, the State Police are notified of any death on campus and can have jurisdiction over any criminal incident that occurs on campus. Generally, Public Safety handles most if not all criminal incidents that occur on Mount Holyoke College property. The South Hadley Fire Department responds to fire and medical emergencies as a supplement to Public Safety services.
Public Safety at a Glance
The Department of Public Safety is in the Central Services complex next to the Central Heating Plant in the center of campus. Office hours are Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 4:00 pm. Public Safety officers and dispatchers are on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Mount Holyoke College Public Safety is part of a three-college public safety department collaborative, having combined its resources with the Hampshire and Smith College public safety departments. The numbers of staff listed below are stationed primarily at Mount Holyoke College, but additional patrol and administrative resources are available through this collaborative.
The department includes full- and part-time staff as follows:
• Officers (full- and part-time) certified as Special State Police officers with full arrest authority. This number includes the Director, Associate Director, Lieutenant and Sergeants (15, plus several part-time on-call staff).
• Dispatchers (full- and part-time) answer both Public Safety phone lines and the College’s main switchboard (9, plus several part-time on-call staff).
• Medical Emergency Respose Team (MERT) team members are students certified as First Responders or EMTs interested in the health professions who assist the department with medical emergencies. MERT Team members are on call evenings during the academic year.
• Administrative Support Personnel provide office coverage and support to the Public Safety, Fleet and Parking Offices (3).
Central Dispatch
The three colleges utilize a central dispatch center which provides dispatch services to all three campuses 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.
