For most small colleges (as this "liberal arts college in New England" almost certainly was), there is an agreement between the college and the local police department (if one exists) that the college will handle just about everything internally, and push things off to the local or state PD as necessary.
My college fits the description of the one in the OA. They had a small, self-important security department of a half dozen part time and one or two full time unarmed guards. Anything that happened on campus, they'd handle. That in and of itself is not mandated by the government, but it's a fairly common occurrence.
Comments
For most small colleges (as this "liberal arts college in New England" almost certainly was), there is an agreement between the college and the local police department (if one exists) that the college will handle just about everything internally, and push things off to the local or state PD as necessary.
My college fits the description of the one in the OA. They had a small, self-important security department of a half dozen part time and one or two full time unarmed guards. Anything that happened on campus, they'd handle. That in and of itself is not mandated by the government, but it's a fairly common occurrence.