House OK’s campus crime reporting bill
NASHVILLE (AP) — The House unanimously approved legislation Wednesday that would require university police to notify local law enforcement of any campus deaths or rapes, which would be jointly investigated.
Called the “Robert ‘Robbie’ Nottingham Campus Crime Scene Investigation Act of 2004,” the bill is named in honor of an East Tennessee State University student found dead a year ago on the sidewalk in front of his on-campus apartment.
Campus police determined Nottingham committed suicide by jumping from a second-story balcony. His parents believe foul play was involved and say the campus authorities botched their investigation into his death.
Nottingham’s parents, Jim and Mary, said the university didn’t even call to tell them about the death; they heard from friends of their son. Campus police had removed the body and were washing blood away when the parents reached the scene from their home about 20 miles away.
Also, according to the family’s investigator, the crime scene was not roped off until Johnson City police arrived on the scene, and campus police sent the city officers away.
The Nottinghams have made several trips to Nashville lobbying for the legislation, which was approved earlier this year by the Senate. It goes back to senators for action on a minor amendment that clarifies the law would not conflict with any federal statutes.
House sponsor Nathan Vaughn, D-Kingsport, said Mary Nottingham hugged him after the vote.
“They really appreciate that we honored their son and made sure his life was not in vain,” Vaughn said.
Rep. Brenda Turner, D-Chattanooga, said it was too bad it took such a tragedy to enact the legislation.
“Oftentimes there is miscommunication between campus authorities and local law enforcement,” she said. “This bill certainly will do what many of us many years ago should have thought of.”
Some have expressed concern that although the bill allows local law enforcement to have the lead in death cases, campus police would direct rape investigations. Vaughn said he thinks that’s best.
“The campus police are in contact with the students. They have a relationship. It’s a sensitive issue and the more rapport an investigator has with a victim the better,” Vaughn said. “I’m very comfortable this is the right thing to do.”
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On the Net:
Read Senate Bill 2797/House Bill 2753: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us