Robert Barker/University Photography

Gabi Walters '15 asks Chief of Police Kathy Zoner a question at the Intercultural Center

Chief of Police Kathy Zoner had one purpose in mind when she met with 30 students at the Intercultural Center March 8 -- to put a new face on any preconceptions the students might have about the role of Cornell University Police.

While the officers do have jurisdiction, arrest authority and other police powers on campus, they are defined by law as peace officers whose primary roles are to keep people safe and protect property, she said. "It is not an 'us' versus 'them' mentality," Zoner said. "It takes a whole community to keep each other safe."

To sketch in that "face," Zoner shared some facts about the Cornell Police:

The accreditation criteria includes more than 200 standards that the Cornell Police follow, Zoner said. For instance, operational procedures direct officers called to the scene of a crime to only use the words that the victim uses in describing a perpetrator's perceived race, ethnicity or skin tone, and only as one factor in the description among such others as clothing worn, approximate height, weight, direction and mode of the perpetrator's travel. Those other factors must be taken into account during the subsequent search; the police cannot detain people on the basis of race or ethnicity alone, she said.

Arrests must be based on probable cause, Zoner said, not just because "I didn't like the way he looked."

But, Zoner said, police are humans, too: "We have our own sensitivities to work on." Sometimes, she said, the question may not be, "Have I done everything technically correct?" but "Was it culturally correct, and could I have changed my approach and still addressed the safety of everyone involved?"

At other times, the officers' initial actions may seem harsh, but they must gain control of the situation first; once safety is established, there is room for a friendlier, calmer conversation, she said.

In response to a student question about the percentage of arrests made in the Greek community, Zoner said the percentage is hard to determine, since such violations can be committed by visiting non-members as well as those belonging to the house.

Sexual assault and sexual harassment cases are handled according to federal Title IX guidelines, Zoner said.

"We will respond, take down the information we are given, investigate and identify the perpetrator if possible," she said. "Most of the time on our campus, the perpetrator is known, and unfortunately alcohol is involved in most of our sexual assault complaints."

When asked about a recent NYPD incident in the news and possible harassment of Muslims, Zoner said that Cornell Police have reached out to encourage Muslim students to report any incidents they experience. She said that that is true for anyone on campus: "We will react, we will investigate," she said.

Her parting piece of advice? Spring is coming, and with spring come fast-moving waters. "Stay out of the waters in the gorges and stay on official trails," she said.