USF at St. Pete Police Department

When a criminal defense is committed on campus, officers with the University Police Department (UPD) of USF in St. Petersburg will investigate the case. These officers have the authority to decline to prosecute, refer the case to the State Attorney’s Office, issue a notice to appear in court for a misdemeanor offense committed in their presence, or make an arrest for a felony or misdemeanor offenses.

These officers must follow certain standard operating procedures when conducting an investigation or making an arrest. It is important that your criminal defense attorney understands the special rules that apply to officers within each law enforcement agency in Pinellas County, FL.

Attorneys after an Arrest by the USFSP

If you are arrested by an officer with the Campus Police at USF in St. Petersburg, FL, then contact an experienced criminal defense attorney in St. Petersburg, FL, at Morris Law Firm, P.A..

We represent students and educators accused of a crime. We can also help you during a disciplinary hearings if you are accused of violating the student code of conduct by committing a criminal offense on campus or off campus.

Contact Information

Mission of the USF St. Petersburg Police Department

The police chief of the campus police at the University of South Florida in St. Petersburg, FL, is David Hendry.

The USF St. Petersburg (USFSP) Police Department is a fully accredited state law enforcement agency. It provides services to students, educators, staff and visitors to the campus 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. According to its website, the mission of the USFSP is to “Inspire scholars to lead lives of impact.”

According to the Police Applicant Screening Service (PASS) Salary Survey, the 2017 salary ranges for the USF at St. Pete Police Department is a minimum of $42,000 and a maximum of $62,000 for an officer.

Attorneys for USF St. Petersburg Student Code of Conduct Hearings

After a student at the St. Petersburg campus of the University of South Florida (USF) is arrested on campus or off campus, the school might initiate a disciplinary hearing for a violation of the student code of conduct. Ideally, your criminal defense attorney in St. Petersburg, FL, should also represent you at each phase of this investigation and the hearings.

The disciplinary system at the University of South Florida System in St. Petersburg expects students to behave in a manner that supports the values of integrity, civility, and respect.

The Student Code of Conduct describes behavior that is counteractive to these principles. The code also describes how the system at USF in St. Petersburg will hold students accountable for those inappropriate behaviors.

Students are expected to comply with all state laws, as well as USF code of conduct rules, policies, and regulations. When a student attending the USF St. Petersburg campus is accused of a crime, the student may be prosecuted in state court or federal court. The student might also be disciplined under the Student Code of Conduct.

The officials at USF in St. Petersburg, FL, have the authority to pursue disciplinary action even if criminal justice authorities choose not to prosecute. The code of conduct disciplinary hearings are independent of the criminal justice process.

Students who are accused of a criminal act are often referred to the Office of Student Conduct by local law enforcement agencies including the University Police Department (UPD) of USF and other law enforcement agencies in Pinellas County. When the case is not being prosecuted in state or federal court, the referral can be made by other students, educators or staff at the university.

The Office of Student Conduct at the USF campus in St. Petersburg also reserves the right to initiate or follow up any investigative leads where there is a reasonable belief of possible violations of the Student Code of Conduct.