University of Virginia Library

Judge Removes Security
From County Jurisdiction

By JOHN EPPS

The University Security Department,
formerly under the jurisdiction of both
the Albemarle County court and the
Charlottesville city court, has been
removed from county court jurisdiction.

The change, ordered by Charlottesville
Corporation Court Judge George M.
Coles, retains security officers' police
powers in the city but limits their county
authority to only one mile outside city
limits.

The one-mile limit in the county
provides Security Department authority
over the entire Grounds.

Shift In Responsibility

The change will not affect department
operations since its policy restricts its
officers to the Grounds. The order's only
effect will be to shift the department's
responsibility to the city courts.

The court's action culminates a
sequence of events stemming from the
investigation of security officer Walter R.
Chaffin. Mr. Chaffin was to be
investigated on charges of harassment of
blacks on the Grounds.

A University committee headed by
Law Prof. Marion K. Kellogg was forced
to drop its investigation of Mr. Chaffin
when Albemarle County
Commonwealth's Atty. Charles R. Haugh,
claiming jurisdiction over Mr. Chaffin,
instructed him not to participate in the
investigation.

Court To Review Duties

Mr. Haugh then requested Judge David
F. Berry of the county court to review
the Security Department's duties,
authority and jurisdiction.

Mr. Haugh filed his request with the
clerk of the Circuit Court.

Mr. Haugh desired the hearing because
he said a controversy exists concerning
"the authority of the University of
Virginia and its officials over these police
officers in the performance of their duties
in the field of criminal law enforcement;
the extent of the authority of these
officers...; and the duty of these police
officers in the enforcement of criminal
laws on that portion of the Grounds lying
within Albemarle County."

Mr. Haugh added to this that the
University hires security officers, but
these officers are appointed "special
police officers" by the county Circuit
Court and are to execute the duties of
such an officer on the Grounds of the
University.

He instructed Albemarle County
Sheriff George W. Bailey to issue
subpoenas to six. University
administrators, including University
President Edgar F. Shannon Jr.

The review was halted when Judge
Coles ordered the jurisdiction change at
the request of the University's Board of
Visitors. The announcement came after a
Saturday morning meeting between Judge
Coles, Charlottesville Commonwealth's
Atty, John T. Camblos and Leigh B.
Middleditch, legal counsel for the
University.

Resolution of Problems

"We are all very hopeful" Mr. Camblos
said Saturday, "that this move is going to
resolve the problems that have been
outstanding for some time and recently
came to a head in the Chaffin case."

Mr. Camblos said he has been assured
of University co-operation with his office.

Mr. Haugh criticized the University
yesterday for requesting the jurisdiction
change.

"This maneuver by the University," he
said, "was obviously made because the
actions and practices of certain University
of Virginia officials, and the resultant
conditions on the University Grounds,
could not stand the scrutiny of either
Judge Berry or the public."

Judge Coles said that in the future any
complaints involving security officers
would be handled by Corporation Court.