Party hosts may do a double take when Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) officers find their way to the door in the middle of that Halloween house bash or a particularly rowdy get−together. Living off campus can encourage a sense of independence that contradicts TUPD — rather than Medford or Somerville police — jurisdiction. In reality, while TUPD and police departments from Medford and Somerville face widely varying challenges and maintain largely separate duties, the forces have struck a balance and developed a cooperative relationship when it comes to managing the safety of, and disciplinary measures against, Tufts students.
If neighbors of Tufts−occupied residences call the Tufts emergency or non−emergency numbers in order to file a noise complaint, the call goes directly to TUPD and automatically falls under their jurisdiction. If they decide to call 911, the procedure is a little different.
According to TUPD Sgt. Robert McCarthy, 911 calls that come from campus go to the state dispatcher, then to the city police department — either Medford or Somerville — before finally being forwarded to TUPD.
The line becomes a bit more blurred in the case of off−campus student houses. McCarthy said that in these instances, there is a high level of collaboration between TUPD and the local police departments.
"We share the same jurisdictions, so if an incident off campus happens and Tufts students are involved, we are notified and we respond together," McCarthy said. "We provide mutual aid, and if there is an emergency they call us and we help out."
Deputy Chief Paul Upton of the Somerville Police Department added that local law enforcement keeps TUPD abreast of happenings in the area.
"Any time there is something going on in or around the Tufts campus, we share that information with [TUPD]," Upton said. "They have the ability to come on our radio frequency and vice−versa."
However, the penalty a student receives from a TUPD officer and a Medford or Somerville police officer may differ. McCarthy explained that while local policemen can issue a fine to an apartment in the event of a noise violation, TUPD officers can't.
"We write a report, it goes to the dean and it's handled up there," McCarthy said. He added that while TUPD and Medford/Somerville police have the power to make arrests and take legal action against students, they usually utilize university disciplinary measures instead.
"Even on campus, [a student] could be arrested for underage drinking," McCarthy said. "We could arrest somebody for possession of alcohol. Usually we just turn it over the dean's office. Somerville police could arrest someone for possession, but they don't usually because they know that we are handling it," McCarthy said.
Because of the potential overlap of disciplinary measures that could rack up against a student, local police officers try to consult with TUPD before taking action against students.
"If there are students involved, generally we notify TUPD," Upton said. "We may not know that that student has some other issues on campus. If there is some kind of violation, like underage drinking or noise late at night, we may, after discussing the matter, turn it over to the Tufts Disciplinary Committee, or we could issue a city civil violation, which is a fine," he said.
According to the TUPD website, "Tufts Police officers are authorized to make arrests for criminal offenses in or upon lands or structures owned, used, or occupied by the university, or in places where university business is conducted. This authority extends beyond the confines of the various campuses as determined by the acquisition of local special police status or deputy sheriffs' authority or by previous court decisions."
McCarthy explained that TUPD officers have jurisdiction even in off−campus locations because they are sworn in as sheriffs in Suffolk and Middlesex Counties. He added that as a result of this, TUPD officers sometimes help out with events in Medford and Somerville, and likewise call on Medford and Somerville police to assist with special events at Tufts. This mostly occurs around large events like Spring Fling and graduation, and during the beginning of the fall semester when students begin moving onto campus, according to Upton.
There are limits to the authority of TUPD officers, especially in the case of parking violations and fines. According to McCarthy, there are only specific areas around the Tufts campus where TUPD can administer tickets. Additionally, if the ticketed car does not belong to a Tufts student, TUPD has no means of collecting the amount fined on the ticket. However, if a non−Tufts car owner receives three tickets from TUPD, his or her car can be towed.
Upton said that on the whole, Somerville police have not encountered any major problems when working to protect members of the Tufts community. He issued a reminder, however, that Jumbos living off the Hill have a responsibility to be good neighbors.
"All we're looking for is for everyone to enjoy their time here in our community, but they have to remember that when they live off campus, they are in neighborhoods, and our neighborhoods are very, very close, so if you're having a loud party, that's going to very disruptive," Upton said.
Upton added that altercations with students are infrequent, occur primarily at night and are usually related to noise levels.
"I can never remember getting a call about a disturbance before midnight," he said. "We have very few problems with Tufts students. Most students come, do their four years, and we never see them. In general, I think we get along pretty well with the student body, which is the same in any part of society."
