UF president creates committee to examine significant police issues

April 13, 2011

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — University of Florida President Bernie Machen announced today the membership and charge of a new committee to provide insight and perspective on serious matters involving the UF Police Department.

The Ad Hoc UFPD Campus Advisory Committee will advise the police chief on significant police matters affecting the police-campus community relationship. This group may discuss, in particular, the campus impacts that come from allegations of excessive force, violations of civil liberties or violations of law by police officers.

“Helping keep our campus safe requires a community effort,” Machen said. “The formation of this committee illustrates my commitment to transparency and a desire to encourage open dialogue on complicated topics regarding public safety.”

The committee will be made up of eight members representing the student body, faculty, staff and the police. The police chief will chair the committee. The inaugural members are:

• Linda Stump — police chief
• Scott Nygren — chair of the Faculty Senate
• Mary Ann Ferguson — immediate past chair of the Faculty Senate
• Cathleen Martyniak — faculty at large
• Ben Meyers — president of Student Government
• Severin Walstad — Student Inter Residence Hall Association representative
• Christina Bonarrigo — student at large
• Harold Jackson — administrative staff appointment

All committee members will participate in a police ride-along each year and attend training on a variety of topics including the Law Enforcement Bill of Rights, community policing, behavioral threat assessment, UFPD’s internal affairs process and use of force standards.

The committee will be convened by the police chief or at the request of five or more committee members. This committee will not investigate specific officer complaints. Florida law protecting the rights of police officers requires the police department to conduct the investigations and determine any discipline. However, the committee may provide the campus community perspective on issues arising from serious incidents.

Meetings will be noticed and open to the public. Members of the campus community will have some opportunities to provide input to the committee.