strangeness

It's good to read about projects that are actually designed to improve the way police and first responders do their jobs. And, it's heartening to know that the government (local and federal) as well as private organizations have the ability to learn from past incidents, aim to change it, and actually receive the resources to do so.

I just read this article in The Columbus Dispatch about the integration of thousands of video cameras, aptly named the Camera Integration Project, which will give law enforcement and other officials the ability to view cameras owned by public and private entities:

The new network will be far more comprehensive than anything that has come before, tying together government-operated cameras on roads, public buildings and airports with private security systems at malls, office buildings and other major centers. Private companies won't be required to join the network.

The project has been allotted $235,000 and will be launched in a year or two, according to the publication.

Ohio's network is modeled after Virtual Alabama, apparently the first statewide camera network that launched in July 2006. And, according to Alabama's homeland-security director, the network has been useful for everything from tornado response to solving a rash of shootings.

I think a network of this scale is great in theory, but what are the concerns? Obviously, it's important to have strict policies in place regarding who has access to the cameras, but are there other network-related issues to be aware of?

I'll admit it. This news article has me all confused. As reported by WSOC-TV, a North Carolina court has ruled that the Davidson College police department does not have legal policing powers because of the school's religious ties.

Say what?

“What this case says is that you can't delegate a law enforcement function to a religiously-affiliated school,” Charlotte defense attorney James Wyatt said. According to him, that means no arrests and no search and seizures.

This ruling is based on a case four years ago where a college police officer arrested a women (who was not associated with the school) and charged her with a DWI. The woman actually pleaded guilty, but then appealed, saying the police department did not have authority because the school has religious ties.

I would think this ruling could have HUGE implications for other colleges and universities around the country. Aren't there tons of schools that were originally founded on religious platforms? Does this mean that a police officer working for such a university does not actually have any legal authority? And, as a side note, I'm assuming based on this article that Davidson College's police officers are actual sworn officers who have undergone the proper state training to have arresting powers and are not simply security officers (just wanted to let you know I haven't confirmed that yet). Calls are out. Stay posted on this one.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For more on this issue, including comments from Davidson College as well as the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, check out SDN's story here.