Ind. Code ch. 21-17-5

Ind. Code ch. 21-17-5
in effect

Ind. Code § 21-17-5-1 Applicability of chapter

Sec. 1. This chapter applies to a college, university, or junior college that: (1) is accredited by the North Central Association; and (2) is not a state educational institution. [Pre-2007 Higher Education Recodification Citation: 20-12-3.5-1 part.] As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.258.

Ind. Code § 21-17-5-2 Governing board; powers and duties

Sec. 2. The governing board of an educational institution may do the following: (1) Appoint police officers for the educational institution for which it is responsible. (2) Prescribe the duties of police officers of the educational institution and direct their conduct. (3) Prescribe distinctive uniforms for the police officers of the educational institution or campus. (4) Designate and operate emergency vehicles. [Pre-2007 Higher Education Recodification Citation: 20-12-3.5-1 part.] As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.258.

Ind. Code § 21-17-5-3 Oath of office

Sec. 3. Police officers appointed under this chapter shall take an appropriate oath of office in the form and manner prescribed by the appointing governing board. The police officers serve at the pleasure of the appointing governing board. [Pre-2007 Higher Education Recodification Citation: 20-12-3.5-1 part.] As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.258.

Ind. Code § 21-17-5-4 Powers and duties of police officers; immunity of educational institution police officer, offices, and boards

Sec. 4. (a) Police officers appointed under this chapter have the following powers: (1) General police powers, including the power to arrest, without process, all persons who commit any offense within the view of the officer. (2) The same common law and statutory powers, privileges, and immunities, including the protections and immunities in IC 34-13-3, as state police officers, sheriffs, and constables. However, the police officers are empowered to serve civil process only to the extent authorized by the employing governing board. (3) The duty to enforce and to assist the officials of the educational institutions in the enforcement of the rules and regulations of the educational institution. (4) The duty to assist and cooperate with other law enforcement agencies and law enforcement officers. (b) The governing board of an educational institution employing a police officer may expressly forbid the officer from exercising any powers otherwise granted to the police officer by law. (c) If an educational institution, governing board of an educational institution, delegated office or offices of a governing board of an educational institution, or individual employed by the educational institution as a police officer acts in accordance with this chapter or engages in activities related to law enforcement: (1) the educational institution, the governing board of an educational institution, and the delegated office or offices of the governing board of an educational institution have the same common law and statutory immunities granted to the state; and (2) an individual employed by the educational institution as a police officer has the same common law and statutory immunities granted to a state police officer; including the protections and immunities in IC 34-13-3. (d) A record of an educational institution's police department is a public record subject to IC 5-14-3, if the record meets the requirements of IC 5-14-3-2.2. [Pre-2007 Higher Education Recodification Citation: 20-12-3.5-2 part.] As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.258. Amended by P.L.217-2016, SEC.5.

Ind. Code § 21-17-5-5 Jurisdiction

Sec. 5. (a) This section applies only to a police officer who meets the minimum basic training and educational requirements adopted by the law enforcement training board under IC 5-2-1-9 as necessary for employment as a law enforcement officer. (b) A police officer appointed under this chapter may exercise the powers granted under this chapter upon any real property owned or occupied by the educational institution employing the police officer, including the streets passing through and adjacent to the educational institution. An institution may extend a police officer's territorial jurisdiction in accordance with subsection (c). (c) An institution may extend a police officer's territorial jurisdiction to the entire state, or to any part of the state, if: (1) the board of trustees adopts a resolution specifically describing the territorial jurisdiction of a police officer appointed under this chapter; and (2) the board of trustees notifies the: (A) superintendent of the state police department; and (B) sheriff of the county in which the institution is primarily located (or the chief of police of the consolidated city, if the institution is primarily located in a consolidated city); of the boundaries of the extended territorial jurisdiction. The institution shall provide the persons described in subdivision (2)(A) and (2)(B) with notice of the extended jurisdiction every two (2) years, by January 31 of the second year. (d) If a police officer appointed under this section exercises the officer's police powers outside of the county in which the institution is primarily located, the officer shall notify the sheriff (or, in the case of a consolidated city, the chief of police) as soon as practicable. [Pre-2007 Higher Education Recodification Citation: 20-12-3.5-2 part.] As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.258. Amended by P.L.30-2011, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 21-17-5-6 Retirement of police officers; benefits

Sec. 6. Whenever a police officer retires after at least twenty (20) years of service, the police officer may retain the officer's service weapon. The officer is entitled to receive, in recognition of the service to the educational institution and the public, a badge that indicates that the officer is retired. Upon retirement, the state police department shall issue to the police officer an identification card that: (1) states the police officer's name and rank at retirement; (2) states the officer's retired status; and (3) notes the officer's authority to retain the service weapon. A retired police officer described in this section is entitled to a lifetime license to carry a handgun as described under IC 35-47-2-3(g). [Pre-2007 Higher Education Recodification Citation: 20-12-3.5-2(c) part.] As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.258. Amended by P.L.17-2017, SEC.1; P.L.107-2019, SEC.4; P.L.165-2021, SEC.181.

Ind. Code § 21-17-5-7 Governing board; regulations; penalties

Sec. 7. (a) This section does not limit or restrict the powers of any other governmental authority having jurisdiction over public streets, roads, alleys, or ways. (b) The governing board of the educational institution may regulate the traffic of: (1) motor vehicles; (2) bicycles; (3) other vehicles; and (4) pedestrians; on all streets, roads, paths, and grounds of real property owned, used, occupied, or controlled by the educational institution. (c) Regulations adopted by the governing board applicable to traffic may include the following provisions: (1) Provisions governing the: (A) registration; (B) speed; (C) operation; (D) parking; and (E) times, places, and manner of use; of motor vehicles, bicycles, and other vehicles. (2) Provisions prescribing penalties for the violation of regulations. Penalties may include the: (A) imposition of reasonable charges; (B) removal and impounding (at the expense of the violator) of vehicles that are operated or parked in violation of regulations; and (C) denial of permission to operate vehicles on the property of the educational institution. (3) Provisions establishing reasonable charges and fees for the registration of vehicles and for the use of parking spaces or facilities owned or occupied by the institution. [Pre-2007 Higher Education Recodification Citation: 20-12-3.5-3 part.] As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.258.

Ind. Code § 21-17-5-8 Request for additional police assistance

Sec. 8. The governing board of the educational institution may empower one (1) or more officials of the educational institution to request the assistance of law enforcement officers of the: (1) state; (2) counties; (3) cities; and (4) towns; when necessary. When any law enforcement officer is on the property of the educational institution by virtue of a request under this section, the law enforcement officer possesses all powers conferred by this chapter upon police officers appointed by the respective governing board, in addition to the powers otherwise conferred upon the law enforcement officers by the laws of the state. [Pre-2007 Higher Education Recodification Citation: 20-12-3.5-4 part.] As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.258.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/21Fetched: 10/17/2026