Jurisdiction & Mutual Aid

The purpose of this policy is to affirm the authority of the members of the UW-Platteville Police Department to perform their functions based on established legal authority.

Policy: Jurisdiction & Mutual Aid

Author: Chief Joseph M. Hallman

WILEAG Standard: 1.6.1, 1.6.2, 9.1.10

Issue Date: June 1, 2021 

Reviewed Date: March 25, 2026

Revised Date: March 25, 2026

 

 

Purpose:

The purpose of this policy is to affirm the authority of the members of the UW-Platteville Police Department to perform their functions based on established legal authority.

Policy:

The UW-Platteville Police Department clearly delineates its specific geographic boundaries and concurrent jurisdictional responsibilities to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of service. Jurisdictional authority shall be extended when established interagency or mutual aid agreements are properly placed into effect.

Definitions:

1. Concurrent jurisdiction- refers to the sharing of, or having equal authority within, the same jurisdictional boundaries by two or more governmental entities.
2. Mutual aid- refers to a statute by which a law enforcement agency may render assistance to or request assistance from another agency in law enforcement emergencies.

Procedures:

1. Geographic Boundaries (1.6.1.1)
   1. The UW-Platteville Police Department includes properties in and around the city of Platteville, the county of Grant, and the state of Wisconsin.
   2. The UW-Platteville Police Department also includes properties in the Lafayette County, in the State of Wisconsin.  Specifically, the “M” and Pioneer Farm.
   3. A detailed official map, delineating the specific geographical jurisdiction boundaries of the Department, shall be available to all field personnel.
2. Arrest Authority Outside UW-Platteville Police Department Jurisdiction
   1. An officer outside the territorial jurisdiction of this department may arrest a person if the following conditions are met (Wis. Stat. § 175.40(6)) (1.6.1.2)
      1. The officer is on duty and on official business.
      2. The officer is taking action that would be authorized under the same circumstances within the territorial jurisdiction of this department.
      3. The officer is responding to an emergency situation that poses a significant threat to life or of bodily harm or acts that the officer reasonably believes constitute a felony.
   2. An officer may also enforce any law or ordinance that he/she is otherwise authorized to enforce by arrest or issuance of a citation anywhere in the state when in fresh pursuit or on the entire width of any highway that is a boundary of UW-Platteville and an adjacent jurisdiction except when the jurisdiction is outside the boundaries of the state of Wisconsin (Wis. Stat. §175.40(2); Wis. Stat. §175.40(4)). (1.6.1.2)
   3. While engaged in enforcement action outside the jurisdiction of the UW-Platteville Police Department, an officer should notify the local law enforcement agency of the county or municipality where the violation occurs, cooperate with that agency as necessary, and notify his/her immediate supervisor as soon as reasonably practicable (Wis. Stat. §175.40(6)(d)). (1.6.1.2)
3. Off-Duty Peace Officer Arrest Authority
   1. An off-duty officer may arrest a person outside the territorial jurisdiction of this department, but still in the state, if all of the following apply (Wis. Stat. §175.40(6m)(a)). (1.6.1.2)
      1. The officer is responding to an emergency situation that poses a significant threat to life or of bodily harm.
      2. The officer is taking action that would be authorized under the same circumstances within the territorial jurisdiction of this department.
      3. The off-duty officer notifies the supervisor as soon as reasonably practicable, notifies the local law enforcement agency of the county or municipality where the arrest occurred and cooperates with that agency as necessary (Wis. Stat. §175.40(6m(a)).
4. Concurrent Jurisdiction (1.6.1.3)
   1. According to Wisconsin statute §36.11(2)(a), “the Board of Regents shall have concurrent police power, with other authorized peace officers, over all property subject to its jurisdiction. Such concurrent police authority shall not be construed to reduce or lessen the authority of the police power of the community or communities in which a campus may be located.”
   2. The UW-Platteville Police Department shall be the primary agency providing law enforcement services to the University of Wisconsin–Platteville.
   3. Properties owned or leased by the University of Wisconsin-Platteville that lay in close proximity to other law enforcement jurisdictions may receive law enforcement services from the other jurisdiction. However, the primary investigative responsibility for occurrences on those properties’ rests with the UW-Platteville Police Department.
   4. The UW-Platteville Police Department shall have concurrent jurisdiction primarily with the City of Platteville Police Department, Grant County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office There are other federal, state, county, and local agencies that may, on occasion, perform a police function within the city. The origin of their office (federal, state, etc.) shall define the scope of their authority.
   5. City, County, state, and federal agencies shall maintain concurrent jurisdiction within the Department when conducting investigations and taking enforcement action, as guaranteed by state and federal statutes.
   6. Any interagency agreements entered into by the Department shall outline agency responsibilities regarding concurrent jurisdiction, to include identification of the agency responding to a call for service by type, communication linkages between agencies to ensure prompt and appropriate response, provisions for backup support between jurisdictions, reporting responsibilities, and policies concerning the jurisdiction of prosecutors and courts.
      1. The Grant County Sheriff’s Office has a standing Memorandum of Understanding with UWPPD, by where the Grant County Sheriff’s Office has deputized UW-Platteville Police Officers to provide arrest powers and authority at the property located at 800 S. Chestnut Street, known as “Rountree Commons”.  This property is not owned, but is controlled by UW-Platteville.  Also reference §UWS 18.03(1).
5. Mutual Aid (1.6.2)
   1. According to Wisconsin Statute §66.0313(2), “Upon the request of any law enforcement agency, including county law enforcement agencies as provided in statute §59.28(2), the law enforcement personnel of any other law enforcement agency may assist the requesting agency within the latter's jurisdiction, notwithstanding any other jurisdictional provision. For purposes of Statute §895.35 and Statute §895.46, law enforcement personnel, while acting in response to a request for assistance, shall be deemed employees of the requesting agency.” Officers temporarily transferred shall have all the rights, privileges, and authority of an officer employed by the UW-Platteville Police Department for the duration of the transfer.
   2. Department non-emergency requests for mutual aid shall be directed to the Chief of Police or designee. The Chief or designee shall evaluate the request and decide what resources, if any, shall be required and requested. The Chief shall develop and maintain liaisons with other agencies in order to enhance the Department’s ability to cooperatively and effectively respond to any field situation or emergency. Particular circumstances of cooperation may involve criminal investigations in overlapping or multiple jurisdictions or other events.
   3. The Department shall provide or request personnel as necessary during emergencies. To the extent practical, the integrity of working units shall be maintained and instructions to outside units shall be relayed from a Department supervisor to a supervisor of the cooperating agency. Replies to requests for assistance shall be made by the chief executive officer of the responding agency or designee. If the request is granted, the requesting law enforcement agency shall be informed of the number of officers to be transferred and their identities, if that information is available. Requests for local resources may be handled through the Grant County Sheriff’s Office or through the OIC of the Department requested to assist.
   4. Interagency agreements may be executed at the direction of the Chief of Police or designee.
   5. Resources permitting, all requests for police services within the University of Wisconsin-Platteville jurisdiction shall initially be assigned to employees of the Department (unless prior agreements with other law enforcement agencies exist).
   6. Requests for temporary assistance shall be made by the head law enforcement official of the requesting agency or designee. The designee shall usually be the ranking officer on duty at the requesting agency. The request shall include, where feasible, a description of the situation creating the need for assistance, the number of officers requested, the location to which they are to be dispatched, and the officer-in-charge at that location. The request and the accompanying information may be transmitted by radio communication, telephone or by other means.
   7. Officers assigned to respond to another agency request for mutual aid should report to the requesting agency staging area, if established, and make contact with the appropriate person (i.e., staging manager, liaison officer, incident commander, etc.). If no staging area is established, the officer shall report to the officer-in-charge of the requesting agency at the designated location and shall be subject to the lawful orders and commands of that officer. Where such reporting is not feasible, the officer may report to the officer-in-charge by radio communication, phone, or other method of communication.
   8. Radio communications between the requesting agency officers and transferred officers shall be maintained by use of a mutually shared radio channel (e.g. Campus channel, GTSO channel, Coordination Channel, MARC 1 and 2, or WISCOM channels).
   9. When taking law enforcement action at the scene of the emergency, including the use of force, officers shall adhere to the policies and procedures of the UW–Platteville Police Department and utilize only those weapons and tactics with which they have qualified.
   10. Officers responding to mutual aid requests shall regularly inform the officer in charge (OIC) of the continued status of the incident, officer injuries, and the need for relief. Officers shall conclude their assisting role
       1. Designated to do so by the incident commander;
       2. Relieved by another officer under the direction of the senior operations supervisor;
       3. Recalled to the UW–Platteville Police Department by the OIC or a supervisor. If an officer is recalled to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, the officer shall notify the incident commander prior to leaving the scene.
       4. In the event that there is an imminent threat to life or property occurring on the University of Wisconsin-Platteville campus and the resources immediately available at the time of the emergency are not adequate, the on-scene incident commander shall be responsible for requesting or directing contact with specific law enforcement agencies for assistance. Certain situations may require the assistance of a federal or state agency.
          1. Absent the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) activation, the on-scene incident commander shall be responsible for approving requests for non-routine emergency mutual aid from state and federal agencies.
          2. An incident exceeding the capability of the initial on-scene or on-duty personnel and equipment, requiring resources from multiple response agencies may require either full or partial activation of the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP).