Generally, a Patrol Officer will try to gather as much information as may be available at the time the matter is brought to his or her attention. This normally includes the name of the complainant, the location of the complaint or incident, the nature of the incident or service requested, a time frame pertinent to the incident, and any other information which is relevant to providing service or resolution. Because of the time constraints placed on Patrol Officers by their myriad duties, unless a resolution can be achieved relatively quickly, Officers prepare a written report for later review and action by the Department Investigator. If the matter is indeed resolved at the time of the complaint or request for service, it will still be documented for the Department's records and review. Our primary mission within this private institution is to serve the Dartmouth community and to insure its safety and welfare to the best of our ability.
Cooperation becomes a necessary part of fulfilling that mission.
The Department Investigator reviews all reports prepared by Patrol Officers. Those requiring follow up work are prioritized and the appropriate investigation is begun. Some reports require the involvement of the Hanover Police or another law enforcement agency. The College has a recognized policy of upholding statutory law in coordination with its own policies and procedures. Thus it is both necessary and appropriate to cooperate with outside law enforcement in many matters to insure that the needs of our community are being met fairly.