Campus Police

Office phone: 423-697-4467
24-hour phone: 423-595-3651
Office location: MTC-120
Police Chief: Daniel Renegar

Chattanooga State is committed to fostering a safe, welcoming, and secure environment for everyone who studies, works, or visits our campus. To support this commitment, the College maintains a professional, highly trained Campus Police Department dedicated to service, prevention, and rapid response.

The Chattanooga State Community College Campus Police Department (CSPD) is an independent law enforcement agency certified by the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission. The department is staffed by both commissioned police officers and security guards who provide coverage throughout the day. Commissioned police officers possess full law enforcement authority, including the power to enforce state laws and make arrests on campus and in areas immediately adjacent to College property.

CSPD officers assess and determine the appropriate response to every request for service. When additional resources are needed, CSPD works closely with the Chattanooga Police Department, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department, and other public safety partners to ensure coordinated and effective response.

Beyond enforcement, CSPD is committed to proactive engagement, crime prevention, and building positive relationships across the campus community. The department operates with transparency, professionalism, and accountability, upholding the highest standards of ethics, fairness, and respect for all individuals.

Campus Police may request identification from individuals on College property to ensure campus safety and confirm affiliation with Chattanooga State. Individuals who are not members of the College community and who do not have legitimate business on campus may be directed to leave.

Students, faculty, staff, and guests are encouraged to report suspicious activity, criminal behavior, safety concerns, and emergencies to CSPD as soon as possible. Officers are also available to assist with minor medical situations and other safety-related needs. In urgent or life-threatening emergencies, individuals should dial 911.

Reporting Crimes, Suspicious Activity, and Other Emergencies

All members of the College community, as well as guests, are urged to report crime and suspicious activity to the Chattanooga State Campus Police Department as soon as possible. The Chattanooga State Campus Police Department may be reached 24 hours a day at 423-595-3651 (4467 from campus telephones). All emergency calls for fire, medical, or police assistance should be made to this number. All "911 Emergency" calls will be rerouted to Campus Police by 911 personnel, so what may be a critical loss of time is eliminated with calls directly to 4467.

Chattanooga State Campus Police personnel respond to all calls for assistance that involve potential criminal incidents, medical injuries, or other emergencies that occur on the Chattanooga State campus. Occasionally, complainants may be referred to other campus departments or agencies outside Chattanooga State for appropriate assistance or guidance, depending on the particular incident. Chattanooga State Campus Police personnel will also contact other agencies, such as the Hamilton County Emergency Medical Services or the Chattanooga Fire Department, to assist with ongoing or reported incidents that require additional resources, expertise, or specialized assistance.

Firearms and Our Authority to Search for Illegal Weapons

Firearms and other weapons are prohibited on property owned, operated, or controlled by Chattanooga State Community College and the Tennessee College of Applied Technology at Chattanooga, except as allowed by state law, including for full-time employees with a valid Tennessee handgun carry permit who are registered with campus police and comply with all statutory and policy restrictions. Students are not permitted to possess or carry firearms or other weapons on campus except as expressly authorized by law or this policy.

Under TBR Policy 7.01.00.00, Chattanooga State Campus Police officers have the authority to search for illegally possessed weapons in any area on the institution’s premises, including, but not limited to, lockers, furniture, containers, drawers, equipment or other facilities, lunch boxes, brief cases, personal bags, personal toolboxes or tool kits, parking lots, TBR vehicles and all other vehicles parked on the institution’s premises.

Sex Offender Directory

The federal Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act and the Tennessee College and University Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act of 2002 require that whenever a sex offender becomes employed, enrolls as a student or volunteers at an institution of higher education in the state of Tennessee, he or she must complete or update the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) sexual offender registration/monitoring form and deliver it to TBI headquarters in Nashville. Such persons are also required to register with the Chattanooga State Campus Police.

In compliance with the federal Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act and the Tennessee College and University Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act of 2002, members of the campus community may obtain the most recent information received from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) concerning sex offenders employed, enrolled or volunteering at this institution from the Campus Police located in the MTC Building or by calling (423) 697-4467.

Information is also available on the TBI’s website listing of sex offenders located on the Internet at the TBI Website under “Sexual Offender Registry.”

Services We Provide

Law Enforcement

Crime prevention duties via regular patrol
Crime reporting and investigation (i.e. thefts, assaults…)
Traffic Accident investigation and reporting
Patrols on foot and in patrol cars
Coordinates with internal and external agency and departments in order to maintain the safety and security of the campus during regular business activities and special events

Security Activities

Unlock/Lock Doors
Monitor parking lots
Security Escorts
Security and Safety Checks
Safety Patrols

Helpful Services (No Charge)

Unlock Cars (most makes and models)
Jump dead batteries
Safety escorts for employees and students
Secure requested reserved parking spaces
Traffic control for events
Parking monitoring for events

Policies

Possession and Use of Weapons By Security Personnel and Any Other Person

CSPD Police Officers are authorized to carry firearms, pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated 49-7-118(c). CSPD Police Officers are authorized to use necessary force, including deadly force, to protect themselves or other persons from death or serious bodily harm. Officers’ duty weapons are issued by Chattanooga State Campus Police Department. All Police Officers meet the firearms proficiency standards required by the Tennessee P.O.S.T. Commission.
Non-law enforcement personnel are strictly prohibited from carrying weapons on campus.
Lethal weapons of any kind, most notably firearms and knives, are prohibited on the Chattanooga State campus. The penalty for possession of deadly weapons is enhanced by State law to a FELONY if that possession takes place on campus.
Possession of firearms (or other statutorily defined weapons) on campus is prohibited pursuant to TCA 39-17-1309 and subject to the exceptions contained therein and to the affirmative defenses enumerated in TCA 39-17-1310. Similarly, the General Regulations on Student Conduct and Disciplinary sanctions prohibit the possession or use of any unauthorized firearm or dangerous weapon of any kind.
The possession and use of firearms by anyone other than Chattanooga State Campus Police personnel is prohibited except for those exceptions specified by the TCA 39-17-1309. All instances of use of a police firearm (including violation of policy, accidental discharge, as well as any authorized discharge) shall be reported immediately to the Chief of Police. All instances of firearm use will be investigated.

Reporting Criminal Incidents to State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies

The Chattanooga State Campus Police Department will actively investigate any crime information it receives concerning or involving a member of the campus community or it will supply information regarding the incident as needed or required to local, state or federal law enforcement authorities.
In addition to the requirements of the Clery Act, the Chattanooga State Campus Police Department forwards a monthly report to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation of crimes that occur within our campus community. Each year the Bureau takes these monthly reports and publishes a compilation from all institutions of higher education in Tennessee.

Working Relationship of Campus Police Personnel with State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies

The Chattanooga State Campus Police Department has a close working relationship with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies including the City of Chattanooga Police Department and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. Assistance from the Chattanooga Police Department and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office is utilized when required. Also, assistance from other local, state, and federal agencies, including other law enforcement agencies, is requested as required.

Monitoring & Recording Criminal Activity Off-Campus

Any monitoring of crime off-campus is done by the agency of jurisdiction where the crime took place.
Local law enforcement agencies have been requested to forward copies of their reports of all criminal activity occurring on off campus properties belonging to campus affiliated organizations recognized by Chattanooga State Campus Police Department.

Monitoring & Recording Criminal Activity at Off-Campus Organizations

The College relies on its working relationships with the local law enforcement agencies to receive information about incidents involving students off campus. The Chattanooga State Campus Police Department will cooperate with local law enforcement to investigate any crime information received concerning or involving a member of the campus community or it will supply information regarding the incident as needed or required to local, state or federal law enforcement authorities.

Title IX

The Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act (2000) is federal legislation that requires all sex offenders who must register with the State to also provide notice of enrollment or employment at any institution of higher education. Upon notification to the State, the TN Bureau of Investigation alerts the Chattanooga State Police Department. See the TBI website for more information.

Police Officers are commissioned pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated, 49-7-118, and to Tennessee Board of Regents Policy No. 5:01:07:00. Commissioned Public Officers, pursuant to Tennessee Board of Regents Policy, have all of the police powers necessary to enforce all state laws as well as rules and regulations of the Tennessee Board of Regents and Chattanooga State Community College. All officers have graduated from a fully accredited law enforcement training academy and are required to meet all minimum standards set forth for police officers by the State of Tennessee. The department also provides continuing education for its officers in excess of what is required by these minimum standards. Their training (pursuant to Tennessee Board of Regents Guideline No. P-100) meets the requirements of the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission. The Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training commission Rules mandate a Basic Police Course (Chapter 1110-2-.03, Candidate Certification Requirements) and an approved 40 hour in-service training session (Chapter 1110-4, In service Training Requirement) each calendar year.