Smith College and Mount Holyoke College have shared a police chief for 15 years, and a combined force for 10 years. But that arrangement is coming to an end.
The announcement that the departments will separate came just a few weeks after the departure of Police Chief Daniel Hect.
Hect was the subject of student protests in April due to his politically conservative Twitter activity, which indicated support for President Trump's border wall.
In statements, the colleges said the change is not related to the Hect controversy, but rather about serving their individual campuses.
"In recent years, we have increasingly recognized the need to develop approaches to campus policing that are tailored to the specific needs of our own campus," Smith College said in its statement on Evolving Campus Policing.
The statement from Mount Holyoke used similar language. Both colleges said that Hect’s departure was "mutual and amicable," and declined to answer further questions.
Acting Police Chief Raymond LaBarre also declined to comment.
The separation of the two departments will be complete by July 1, 2020.
