There has been much discussion about the fact the officer was a University of Cincinnati officer operating outside of the boundaries of the campus. It has been mentioned that there is an agreement between UC and the City of Cincinnati that allows UC officers to operate in areas outside of the campus.
It has also been mentioned that UC officers derive their authority from the State of Ohio and are authorized to make arrests anywhere in the State. But that authority is limited. It applies only to felonies. Missing a front license plate is not a felony.
The agreement (memorandum of understanding) between the City of Cincinnati and UC Police also limits their authority beyond the campus boundaries. It contains the following language:
2. Whenever an on-duty law enforcement officer from one jurisdiction views or otherwise has probable cause to believe that a “serious traffic offense” has occurred within the jurisdiction of another cooperating Agency, the law enforcement officer may stop, arrest or cite the suspected violator according to law. Under this Agreement, a “serious traffic offense” is one which jeopardizes public safety and/or constitutes a misdemeanor of the fourth degree or a higher offense. The traffic violator shall be turned over to the first available officer from the cooperating Agency for completion of all necessary processing. The initiating officer shall provide any further assistance to the extent necessary for subsequent court proceedings.
Missing a front license plate does not meet that standard either.
So when Officer Tensing pulled over Samuel Debose he had no authority whatsover to do that. at least in my opinion. He had no authority to cite or detain him. When Samuel Dubose reached for the ignition as if he was preparing to drive off, he had every right to do so. So when officer Tensing reached into the car to try an stop him and subsequently shot him, everything he was doing was outside the law it seems to me.
Officer Tensing has a serious problem.
That memorandum of understanding can be found here from the City's web site): http://city-egov.cincinnati-oh.gov/...