implemented this best practice in May 1993

Qualifying under the Best Practices catalogue:
31 Manage resources and capabilities
312 Deliver products and services to customers

Best Practice Summary
(how it works, how you measure it)

In May of 1998 Old Dominion University Police Department and the City of Norfolk Police Department implemented a "Concurrent Jurisdiction Agreement" within the City of Norfolk, Virginia. Prior to 1993 Old Dominion University was paying the City of Norfolk Police Department large sums of overtime money for weekend police patrols of streets surrounding the campus. By developing a strategy designed to expand the jurisdiction of the Campus Police while providing quality police services in a cost-effective manner, the Concurrent Jurisdiction Agreement between the City of Norfolk and Old Dominion University has proven to be a model for other State Colleges and Universities in the Commonwealth. Unlike the very common "mutual aid" agreements many universities enter into with their municipal counterparts, whereby the two entities agree to assist one another if requested, the concurrent jurisdiction agreement allows for a sharing of resources in designated areas of a City. In the case of Old Dominion University Police and the City of Norfolk Police, the agreement allows the Campus police to patrol with full police authority in specific areas of the City of Norfolk.

Impact on the Process Organizational Performance (OUTCOMES)

Old Dominion University is an urban institution located on 165 acres of land in the City of Norfolk, Virginia. Student population is approximately 18,000 students. Nearly 2,200 students live on campus, while an additional 5,000 students live in private rental houses and/or apartments proximate to the campus. Several months prior to the "agreement" being implemented, many of the ODU students had reported circumstances where they called the Norfolk Police to report "suspicious" activity near their homes and were told to report such activity to the Campus Police. When such reports were referred to the Campus Police, the jurisdictional question would surface. In an effort to better serve the University community as well as more effectively deploy manpower, the Police Chiefs of both the City of Norfolk and Old Dominion University met on several occasions to discuss cost-effective patrol strategies capable of maximizing the police presence by sharing territorial responsibilities and equipment, i.e., patrol vehicles, bicycles, motorcycles. Additionally, a 911 "ring down" was installed in the University Police Communications room that signaled the City of Norfolk's Emergency Operation center to automatically contact The University Police when a call was verified to be within a preset boundary. Calls for service regarding the Norfolk Police Department were greatly reduced, realizing a substantial savings to the City in manpower hours. The Old Dominion University Police Department would respond to these calls as part of their routine patrol. This resulted in the University saving approximately $70,000 per year in overtime payments to the City of Norfolk for police services. The Concurrent Jurisdiction agreement, while boosting the morale of Old Dominion University Police personnel, also provided the kind of police presence needed in an urban university setting.

Best Practice Qualification

The Concurrent Jurisdiction Agreement also provided an opportunity for both departments to "cross train" police personnel in the other's policies and procedures, interact on a continuous basis, and share resources. The Agreement began a "model" document for other colleges and universities and municipal police departments across the Commonwealth.

For Additional Information

Old Dominion University
Department of Public Safety
4901 Hampton Boulevard
Norfolk, VA 23529

William C. Rice
Chief
(757) 683-4003
crise@odu.edu

Andre Foreman
Deputy City Attorney
City of Norfolk, Virginia
Office: (757) 664-4256
FAX: (757) 664-4233

Search the Best Practices Database

While the individual best practices are shown under the Best Practices Repository, you may also query the repository by keying in a word or phrase below. The repository will then be searched for your phrase. If it is not found, you are invited to e-mail the Commonwealth Competition Council with the topic you are interested in, and an attempt will be made to contact one of the Virginia state government agencies responsible for that issue.