HUPD Abuses Its Power

A witness called Harvard University Police to report a burglary, not on Harvard property. The witness was likely a Harvard student who thinks that Harvard police (HUPD) have exclusive jurisdiction around Harvard. State law gives campus cops arrest powers only on Harvard property, only for state laws, but not city ordinances. Middlesex and Suffolk Sheriffs extend traffic stop powers to campus cops as they travel between Harvard's Boston and Cambridge campuses. They do not have power to make arrests in Cambridge on non Harvard property. The false premise of jurisdiction is promoted by HUPD and Harvard administrators. No law gives Harvard police jurisdiction over non Harvard property. City police are unconcerned because it is less work for them. But HUPD is not answerable to state laws as City police are. This creates a dangerous situation for civilians who may be arrested contrary to law by rogue Harvard police. Abuse of campus police power is not an unknown occurrence in Cambridge, where Harvard's arrogance is easily apparent.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/news/x196127412/Cambridge-man-caught-in-the-act-of-breaking-into-car-in-Harvard-Square

Cambridge man caught in the act of breaking into car in Harvard Square

By Auditi Guha

Cambridge Chronicle

Posted Feb 13, 2010 @ 06:30 AM