Columbia University recently introduced a group of 36 special patrol officers, newly appointed by the New York Police Department, to bolster campus security. These officers will operate under the directives of the police commissioner, as confirmed by a Columbia spokesperson this week.
Columbia’s administration sought the designation of peace officers from the city’s police commissioner last year following incidents involving the NYPD intervening with pro-Palestinian student protesters who had staged an unauthorized tent encampment on campus grounds and barricaded themselves inside a building. Samantha Slater, a spokesperson for Columbia, explained that the newly appointed officers underwent the rigorous application process outlined by New York’s Peace Officers law. This process grants them the authority to make arrests and utilize physical force, similar to that of regular police officers.
Responding to queries from Reuters, Slater highlighted the legal framework that enables Columbia to have Special Patrol officers appointed by the police commissioner. She emphasized that these officers have undergone extensive training and met all necessary requirements stipulated by the law.
Under city regulations, Columbia bears the costs associated with training and salaries for these officers, who remain employees of the university. However, they are endowed with the same powers and responsibilities as NYPD patrol officers. Columbia’s officers are mandated to adhere to the directives and regulations set forth by the NYPD commissioner, ensuring alignment with departmental standards.
Following the publication of this article, Slater clarified that the officers are indeed Columbia employees, emphasizing that the university oversees their recruitment, selection, employment, and funding. The officers will be stationed on Columbia’s premises and will manage any arrests or summonses before transferring detainees to the local NYPD precinct.
Although the new patrol officers will not carry firearms, they are required to complete 162 hours of state-certified training and be officially sworn in by the police commissioner. This accreditation will allow them to patrol Columbia’s private facilities, including buildings, plazas, and lawns, in a manner that regular NYPD officers typically cannot.
Columbia University has been the focal point of a pro-Palestinian student protest movement, sparking debate and controversy among various stakeholders. As tensions persist, the university’s leadership faces ongoing challenges in navigating the complexities of these demonstrations.
Columbia University’s new officers, appointed last week, possess the same authority for warrantless searches and arrests as any other police officer in New York under the peace officer law. This state law grants them the ability to use physical force, including deadly force, in apprehending individuals or preventing escapes. While collaborating with the university’s public safety office, these officers are distinguished from Columbia’s 117 civilian safety staff by their capacity to remove individuals from campus, issue citations, and make arrests when deemed necessary.
The initiative to bring in peace officers had been in progress for months before U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent return to the White House. The Trump administration had urged Columbia to revise its protest regulations in response to alleged antisemitic harassment on and around the campus, threatening to withdraw federal funding if the demands were not met. Among the demands was the deployment of peace officers with arrest powers.
Columbia’s Office of Public Safety recently updated its website to highlight that the new officers will enhance the university’s ability to address disruptions on campus efficiently and promptly, thereby lessening dependence on the NYPD. Senate members, who alongside the trustees govern the university, have been informed by the trustees and president’s office about the recruitment of peace officers; however, details regarding NYPD’s involvement in the hired patrol officers have not been disclosed.
Dr. Jeanine D’Armiento, a professor of medicine and chair of the Senate’s executive committee, along with two other senators speaking anonymously, revealed that the president’s office had consistently withheld information regarding the authorization of the officers by New York’s government. Columbia’s spokesperson affirmed that the university is adhering to its regulations and stated in a post-publication letter that the intention to expand the safety team with peace officers had been openly communicated.
