UConn, Mansfield Officials Clear up Some Misconceptions Regarding Carriage House

During Tuesday's forum on police services and campus safety at the officials made an effort to clear up some seemingly common misconceptions regarding law enforcement and its role as it relates to students both on and off campus.

"I know there's a lot of miscommunication going around that no one is allowed in Carriage right now," Syed Naqvi, a UConn senior and chief of staff of Undergraduate Student Government (USG) said following Tuesday's forum.

"I had always known the correct policy, but do even the residents of Carriage House know that policy?," he asked.

Here are a few points about Carriage House Apartments that officials attempted to make clear Tuesday.

1) Police aren't looking to intimidate students looking for a good time.

"I’m surprised to hear that the students think we’re unapproachable or are afraid of us,” Sgt. Richard Cournoyer, of the Mansfield Resident State Trooper's Office said. “I don’t want anyone to feel that way,” he said, adding, "I'd like them to approach us and have a conversation with us. That's what we're here for."

2) Police aren't responsible for the guest limit at Carriage House.

"As far as the number of guests, that's up to Carriage House management," Cournoyer said. Per Carriage House's new guest policy, residents are allowed four guests per resident.

3) Police do have a list of residents who reside at Carriage House.

"There is a list," Cournoyer said. "Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night there is a manager on duty and if you don't have a Carriage House ID on you, we defer to them," he said.

4) Carriage House management hires state police to patrol the area.

"The number of officers on the state police side are hired by Carriage House management," Cournoyer said. "We have a collaborative effort so we can work with University of Connecticut Police," he said.

5) The number of officers on patrol at Carriage House may not be as large as some students think.

"The standard since I've been in town and previous has been two [state] troopers," Cournoyer said. Citing the town's collaborative effort with UConn Police, Cournoyer said the most officers he's seen at the base of Carriage House at any one time is four - "two troopers and two UConn [officers]," he said.