The George Washington University (GWU) has expressed its intention to expand the University Police Department's (UPD) jurisdiction to off campus. The undersigned are concerned that such an effort is premature because recently revealed widespread illegal activity by UPD has not been investigated.

On April 22, the GW Hatchet reported that “The University Police Department will change off-campus response protocol after years of illegally operating outside its jurisdiction.” Despite this disturbing admission, GWU has refused to answer basic questions about their illegal patrols. After this revelation, GWU announced plans to expand the legal authority of UPD beyond the campus boundaries.

The undersigned request that you investigate GWU’s illegal patrols to determine the scope & frequency of illegal activity, the type of police action taken illegally, and who ordered or okayed the off-campus patrols. It would be inappropriate for the Council to continue with any further discussion of expanding UPD’s authority until these questions are answered.

We remain concerned that the Office of Security Officers Management Branch of Metropolitan Police Department is not equipped to handle the special responsibility of investigating police complaints against SPO’s. On August 29 at 12:30 pm, ANC Commissioner in Foggy Bottom tried to report an incident of a Special Police Officer patrolling outside of their legal jurisdiction and was told that this was not a violation and that the office could not take the complaint.

Furthermore, SOMB has failed to investigate major allegations such as trespassing and has refused to make reports against SPO’s public. Because of SOMB’s inability to conduct proper oversight of illegal behavior under their purview, we are asking the Chief of Police initiate and oversee SOMB in a thorough investigation of GW's illegal off-campus patrols.