Sec. 1 Purpose
To define the jurisdiction of a University of Texas System Police officer.
Sec. 2 Principles
To ensure that the exercise of authority by a University of Texas System Police officer is consistent with the Texas Education Code and the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, which are the statutory sources for that authority.
Sec. 3 Primary Jurisdiction
The primary jurisdiction of peace officers commissioned by The University of Texas System Police includes all counties in which property is owned, leased, rented, or otherwise under the control of the U. T. System.
Sec. 4 Charge
The U. T. System Police is charged with the responsibility of protecting the life and property of individuals who comprise the student body, faculty, and staff of the U. T. System community.
Sec. 5 Principal Law Enforcement Focus
Each institution chief of police shall be responsible for identifying the principal law enforcement focus, within the department’s primary jurisdiction, of the agency’s law enforcement efforts given the primary mission of the U. T. System Police.
Sec. 6 Coordination with Other Law Enforcement Agencies
Each institution chief of police shall be responsible for coordination and management of the department’s law enforcement efforts with other local law enforcement agencies sharing mutual, concurrent, or secondary jurisdiction.
Sec. 7 Function Outside of Primary Jurisdiction
In addition to the provisions of Texas Education Code Section 51.203(b) U. T. System commissioned peace officers are authorized by Texas Education Code Section 51.203(c) to function as peace officers outside their primary jurisdiction to assist another law enforcement agency in Texas, or to otherwise perform duties as a peace officer on official University business.
Definitions
Campus Peace Officers (Texas Education Code Section 51.203)
a) The governing boards of each state institution of higher education and public technical institute may employ and commission peace officers for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this subchapter. The primary jurisdiction of a peace officer commissioned under this section includes all counties in which property is owned, leased, rented, or otherwise under the control of the institution of higher education or public technical institute that employs the peace officer.
b) Within a peace officer's primary jurisdiction, a peace officer commissioned under this section:
- is vested with all the powers, privileges, and immunities of peace officers;
- may, in accordance with Chapter 14, Code of Criminal Procedure, arrest without a warrant any person who violates a law of the state; and
- may enforce all traffic laws on streets and highways.
c) Outside a peace officer's primary jurisdiction a peace officer commissioned under this section is vested with all the powers, privileges, and immunities of peace officers and may arrest any person who violates any law of the state if the peace officer:
- is summoned by another law enforcement agency to provide assistance;
- is assisting another law enforcement agency; or
- is otherwise performing his duties as a peace officer for the institution of higher education or public technical institute that employs the peace officer.
