(a) There are established special police forces for The University of Connecticut at Storrs and its several campuses, including, but not limited to, The University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, and for Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic and Western Connecticut State University in Danbury. Subject to the approval of the Board of Regents for Higher Education, there are established special police forces for Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield, Capital Community College in Hartford, Gateway Community College in New Haven, Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport, Manchester Community College in Manchester, Middlesex Community College in Middletown, Naugatuck Valley Community College in Waterbury, Northwestern Connecticut Community College in Winsted, Norwalk Community College in Norwalk, Quinebaug Valley Community College in Danielson, Three Rivers Community College in Norwich, and Tunxis Community College in Farmington. The members of each special police force shall have the same duties, responsibilities and authority under sections 7-281, 14-8, 54-1f and 54-33a and title 53a as members of a duly organized local police department. The jurisdiction of said special police forces shall extend to the geographical limits of the property owned or under the control of the above institutions, and to property occupied by The University of Connecticut in the town of Mansfield, except as provided in subsection (b) of § 7-277a.

(b) Members of the special police forces shall continue to be state employees and shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 67, and parts II and III of this chapter. The provisions of part V of chapter 104 and § 7-433c shall not apply to such members.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, positions in the special police forces for The University of Connecticut at Storrs and its several campuses and The University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington shall be unclassified in state service and shall not be subject to the provisions of § 5-206, § 5-208 and subsection (b) of § 5-200a. The positions held by such special police forces shall be within the bargaining unit that represents protective services employees and shall not be severed.

(d) The president of The University of Connecticut shall establish classifications for the special police forces positions for The University of Connecticut at Storrs and its several campuses, including The University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, using objective job-related criteria, including, but not limited to: (1) Knowledge and skill required to carry out the duties of each position, (2) mental and physical effort required to carry out the duties of each position, and (3) the level of accountability assigned to each position. The president shall establish and administer all necessary examinations for such special police forces.

(e) The special police force for any institution listed in subsection (a) of this section shall have access to, and use of, the Connecticut on-line law enforcement communications teleprocessing system without charge.

(f) The chief executive officer of any institution listed in subsection (a) of this section which maintains a special police force may enter into an agreement with one or more of said other institutions which maintain a special police force to furnish or receive police assistance under the same conditions and terms specified in subsection (a) of § 7-277a.

(g) The state shall protect and save harmless any member of the special police force for any institution listed in subsection (a) of this section from financial loss and expense, including reasonable legal fees and costs, if any, arising out of any claim, demand, suit or judgment by reason of the alleged deprivation by such member of any person’s civil rights, which deprivation was not wanton, reckless or malicious, provided such member, at the time of such acts resulting in such alleged deprivation, was acting in the discharge of such member’s duties or within the scope of such member’s employment or under the direction of a superior officer.

(h) Reasonable legal fees and costs incurred as a result of the retention, by any member of the special police force for any institution listed in subsection (a) of this section, of an attorney to represent such member’s interests in any action referred to in subsection (g) of this section shall be borne by the state in those cases in which (1) such member is ultimately found not to have acted in a wanton, reckless or malicious manner, or (2) no punitive damages are ultimately assessed against such member.