Campus Police

Office phone: 423-697-4467
24-hour phone: 423-595-3651
Office location: MTC-120
Police Chief: Daniel Renegar

Chattanooga State cares about the security of everyone who uses our campus and is committed to providing a safe environment. In this spirit, we have engaged a professional and well-trained Police Department. The Chattanooga State Community College Campus Police Department (CSPD) is an independent agency certified by the POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) Commission of Tennessee.

The department operates with full-time commissioned police officers, and/or full-time and/or part-time non-commissioned security guards, each day. The Campus Police Officers have the necessary and complete police authority to apprehend and arrest anyone involved in illegal acts on campus and areas immediately adjacent to the campus.

Officers of the Police Department determine the appropriate response for all requests for assistance. Also utilized when requested, are officers from the Chattanooga Police Department, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department and other law enforcement agencies.

The CSPD is responsible for ensuring that a safe and secure environment exists in order to support the College's educational mission. CSPD provides services to the campus community in a respectful, knowledgeable, and skillful manner, with the highest standards of ethics, accountability, dignity, equity and fairness.

All members of the Campus Police Department are entitled to the cooperation and respect of all individuals on campus. Campus Police may request that persons on Chattanooga State property identify themselves by name and address, present an identification card, and indicate what connection they have with the College or campus. For persons who are not members of the Chattanooga State community and have no legitimate business on campus, Campus Police may require that they leave the campus.

Students, faculty, staff, and guests are encouraged to immediately report all criminal actions and emergencies on campus to CSPD. The campus community is also encouraged to call CSPD for assistance with first aid in minor medical situations. If designated officers are not available or the situation is an acute emergency, outside emergency help may be requested by calling 9-911 from on-campus phones or 911 from non-campus phones.

Mission Statement

The Campus Police Department's mission is to preserve a safe and secure campus environment. We will accomplish this mission through a combination of reactive, proactive, and educational law enforcement services by partnering with members of our campus community including employees and students. By utilizing these partnerships, we will be able to provide a safe learning environment that supports educational freedom, fair and equal treatment, and an open exchange of ideas.

Purpose & Values Statement

Purpose: We support and empower everyone in our community to learn without limits.

Values: We cultivate an inclusive environment. We care about the well-being of each other. We instill trust through integrity and transparency. We encourage fearless innovation and resilience. We collaborate to build a better future.

Services We Provide

Law Enforcement:

Crime prevention duties via regular patrol
Crime reporting and investigation (i.e. thefts, assaults…)
Traffic Accident investigation and reporting
Patrols on foot and in patrol cars
Coordinates with internal and external agency and departments in order to maintain the safety and security of the campus during regular business activities and special events

Security Activities:

Unlock/Lock Doors
Monitor parking lots
Security Escorts
Security and Safety Checks
Safety Patrols

Helpful Services (No Charge):

Unlock Cars (most makes and models)
Jump dead batteries
Safety escorts for employees and students
Secure requested reserved parking spaces
Traffic control for events
Parking monitoring for events

Policies

Possession and Use of Weapons By Security Personnel and Any Other Person

CSPD Police Officers are authorized to carry firearms, pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated 49-7-118(c). CSPD Police Officers are authorized to use necessary force, including deadly force, to protect themselves or other persons from death or serious bodily harm. Officers’ duty weapons are issued by Chattanooga State Campus Police Department. All Police Officers meet the firearms proficiency standards required by the Tennessee P.O.S.T. Commission.
Non-law enforcement personnel are strictly prohibited from carrying weapons on campus.
Lethal weapons of any kind, most notably firearms and knives, are prohibited on the Chattanooga State campus. The penalty for possession of deadly weapons is enhanced by State law to a FELONY if that possession takes place on campus.
Possession of firearms (or other statutorily defined weapons) on campus is prohibited pursuant to TCA 39-17-1309 and subject to the exceptions contained therein and to the affirmative defenses enumerated in TCA 39-17-1310. Similarly, the General Regulations on Student Conduct and Disciplinary sanctions prohibit the possession or use of any unauthorized firearm or dangerous weapon of any kind.
The possession and use of firearms by anyone other than Chattanooga State Campus Police personnel is prohibited except for those exceptions specified by the TCA 39-17-1309. All instances of use of a police firearm (including violation of policy, accidental discharge, as well as any authorized discharge) shall be reported immediately to the Chief of Police. All instances of firearm use will be investigated.

Reporting Criminal Incidents to State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies

The Chattanooga State Campus Police Department will actively investigate any crime information it receives concerning or involving a member of the campus community or it will supply information regarding the incident as needed or required to local, state or federal law enforcement authorities.
In addition to the requirements of the Clery Act, the Chattanooga State Campus Police Department forwards a monthly report to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation of crimes that occur within our campus community. Each year the Bureau takes these monthly reports and publishes a compilation from all institutions of higher education in Tennessee.

Working Relationship of Campus Police Personnel with State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies

The Chattanooga State Campus Police Department has a close working relationship with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies including the City of Chattanooga Police Department and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. Assistance from the Chattanooga Police Department and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office is utilized when required. Also, assistance from other local, state, and federal agencies, including other law enforcement agencies, is requested as required.

Monitoring & Recording Criminal Activity Off-Campus

Any monitoring of crime off-campus is done by the agency of jurisdiction where the crime took place.
Local law enforcement agencies have been requested to forward copies of their reports of all criminal activity occurring on off campus properties belonging to campus affiliated organizations recognized by Chattanooga State Campus Police Department.

Monitoring & Recording Criminal Activity at Off-Campus Organizations

The College relies on its working relationships with the local law enforcement agencies to receive information about incidents involving students off campus. The Chattanooga State Campus Police Department will cooperate with local law enforcement to investigate any crime information received concerning or involving a member of the campus community or it will supply information regarding the incident as needed or required to local, state or federal law enforcement authorities.

Title IX

The Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act (2000) is federal legislation that requires all sex offenders who must register with the State to also provide notice of enrollment or employment at any institution of higher education. Upon notification to the State, the TN Bureau of Investigation alerts the Chattanooga State Police Department. See the TBI website for more information.

Police Officers are commissioned pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated, 49-7-118, and to Tennessee Board of Regents Policy No. 5:01:07:00. Commissioned Public Officers, pursuant to Tennessee Board of Regents Policy, have all of the police powers necessary to enforce all state laws as well as rules and regulations of the Tennessee Board of Regents and Chattanooga State Community College. All officers have graduated from a fully accredited law enforcement training academy and are required to meet all minimum standards set forth for police officers by the State of Tennessee. The department also provides continuing education for its officers in excess of what is required by these minimum standards. Their training (pursuant to Tennessee Board of Regents Guideline No. P-100) meets the requirements of the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission. The Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training commission Rules mandate a Basic Police Course (Chapter 1110-2-.03, Candidate Certification Requirements) and an approved 40 hour in-service training session (Chapter 1110-4, In service Training Requirement) each calendar year.