YSU Police end policy on vehicle entries

The ACLU had threatened legal action if the practice wasn't halted.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- After reviewing a Youngstown State University police crime-stopping policy that had officers entering unattended, unsecured vehicles on campus and removing items, the university has decided to scrap the practice.
The nearly 20-year-old policy was well-intentioned, YSU spokesman Ron Cole said. But university officials feared it might violate privacy rights, Cole explained.
"The practice will be discontinued for good," he added.
Now, if YSU police spot an unsecured vehicle on campus, they'll determine if it's owned by a student, and, if so, try to contact the person to secure the vehicle.
Failing that, the vehicle will be left alone. Police won't enter it, Cole said.
Under the now-banned practice, police would enter an unsecured vehicle and lock it.
If unable to secure it, they would remove valuables and leave a bright yellow card informing the driver that he could have been "ripped off." The card would advise the owner to go to the campus police department to claim the contents.
Privacy rights
The policy rankled Atty. Jeffrey Gamso of Toledo, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Ohio branch.
After learning of the YSU policy, Gamso said the ACLU would review it for possible legal action if it wasn't stopped.
The practice violated privacy rights by having police enter a vehicle, Gamso argued. It also was possibly unconstitutional, he said.
John Habet, YSU's vice president for administration, said in August he was unaware of the practice until The Vindicator began inquiring about.
After learning of the practice, Habet ordered it halted pending the review that has resulted in the recent decision to pitch the policy.
The review was handled by Habet with help from Atty. Holly Jacobs, who is YSU's legal counsel. They also sought input from the Ohio Attorney General's office, Cole said.