Private University Police Department Seeks to Block Decertification Effort

Brigham Young University says it will make every effort to block an effort to decertify the institution's police force.

The university filed a formal appeal filed with the Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS), which said last month that it would seek to strip the BYU police department of law enforcement authority after the agency failed to investigate alleged misconduct by one of its officers.

According to the Salt Lake Tribune , the university—owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—filed a 22-page response detailing its position on why it should keep its policing powers.

BYU lawyers argue that Public Safety Commissioner Jess Anderson overstepped his authority in seeking the decertification, and violated BYU’s rights to due process.

It's the first time in Utah history the state has moved to decertify an entire police department.