POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

The mission of the Villanova University Police Oversight Board is to provide vision, guidance and oversight to the delivery of police services to the Villanova University community.

Through its members, the Committee facilitates communication and develops a mutual understanding of roles and expectations between the community and the University Police. This highly collaborative partnership optimizes police resources on campus by providing thoughtful insight into the safety and security needs of our diverse campus community and by monitoring police activity on campus.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

The Oversight Committee includes two students, three faculty members, one staff member, an at-large member of the University community (i.e. alumni, parent, neighbor), and a University Administrator, who will serve as Committee Chair. These committee members are volunteers that have been appointed by the committee chair. The Director of Public Safety is a non-voting, ex-officio member of the Committee and a representative from the Office of the Vice President and General Counsel serves as an advisor on police legal issues. All non-student appointments are for two academic years, and all members are eligible for three terms of reappointment. Student appointments may vary in length.

The members of the Oversight Committee include:

• Father Kevin DePrinzio, OSA, Ph.D – Vice President for Mission and Ministry
  
• Eloise Berry, PhD, Director, Office of Intercultural Affairs
• Jose Garcia, (SGA) Student, Class of 2023
• Edward Hastings PhD, Assistant Professor
• Crystal Lucky, PhD, Associate Dean of Baccalaureate Studies, CLAS Associate Professor of English
  

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMMITTEE

The Committee functions in an advisory capacity. The Committee is not intended to act as a management arm of the Department, nor is it intended to supplant or replace existing University processes. Existing University policies, procedures, and practices for dealing with issues such as employee relations are to the utilized to adjudicate complaints against Departmental employees.

The specific duties of the Committee include:

1. To serve as a liaison between the Public Safety Department and the University community.
2. To advise and make recommendations to the Executive Vice President concerning the provision of police services to the University community.
3. To be briefed by the Director of Public Safety regarding complaints and subsequent investigations by members of the public against Public Safety officers.
4. To be briefed on all use of force incidents.
5. To review a summary of police citations issued and criminal charges filed.
6. To function as a sounding board for the Director of Public Safety on various issues or concerns involving the Department and the Villanova University community.
7. To provide input on programs and initiatives to enhance campus safety.
8. To promote and support public awareness of the University’s police services and programs.
9. To prepare an annual report of Committee activities, which shall be forwarded to the Executive Vice President.
   

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