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Public Safety addresses Colby College incident

Posted on April 16, 2009, at 12:00 a.m.

Colby Echo

At Colby, 800 students, nearly half its student population, gathered to protest the techniques used to arrest two students.

This weekend conflict broke out at Colby College involving three arrests and students accusing police of brutality, with some citing a racial motive.

The incident occurred April 11 when students interfered with medical help for a student. Now the college’s security and local police actions are in question.

According to the Colby student newspaper, the Echo, students Ozzy Ramirez and Jacob Roundtree “interfered with security officers attempting to assist the potentially ill student. Ramirez and Roundtree were both charged with assault and criminal trespassing.”

In response to this, Chief Noel March, the director of University of Maine Public Safety said, “I encourage the students and community members to exercise their First Amendment right to voice dissatisfaction or concerns.”

March said on a college campus First Amendment rights are of particular importance.

“We especially guard that right for our campus community. The appropriate thing to do is allow the court system to determine the facts and appropriateness of the actions as well as the accountability of those who were charged, and for the college to review its policies and its response,” March said.

The main difference between Colby’s security and UMaine’s is police certification.

“The university employs a police department. Colby College has a security department – they are not sworn police officers for power of arrest. They need to call local authorities to enforce the law,” he said “. I’m sure that a review by the district attorney’s office and Colby College will determine if those policies – college policies and state law – are followed.”

March said it’s against the law for anyone to interfere with police or medical response personnel while they perform their duty. Anyone who interferes is subject to arrest.

“Law enforcement officers have the right to meet force with force to overcome that force to perform their duties,” March said. “I would always encourage University of Maine students to obey law enforcement and medical responders, obey the law and not interfere with the performance of their duties.”

March said conflicts with interference have been an issue “on occasion.” He cited an incident with a fraternity when the members “held off university police and medical personnel at the front door.” The fraternity members were charged with obstructing and interfering.

This is not the standard for UMaine students, March said.

“Typically we enjoy good cooperation.”

March said in his 7 1/2 years as director of Public Safety he has never had to deal with the “push back” the Colby students “exercised in this case.”

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 16th, 2009, 12:00 am. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS feed.