Harvard police officers carry guns because "there have been instances where a gun gives an officer confidence," Police Chief Robert Tonis said in an interview yesterday.

His statement came in response to Tuesday's early morning shooting on Plympton Street behind the Lampoon.

Police have identified James Dauphine, a 19-year-old baker in Somerville, as the victim of the shooting. Dauphine is still on the critical list at Boston City Hospital.

Robert A. Jones, the Harvard officer involved, had a right to shoot the youth because "he was fleeing from a felony committed in the officer's presence," Tonis said.

He added that firearms are considered necessary for police work around Harvard although this is the first incident of their use in the last six years. "Carrying sidearms has been the accepted policy at Harvard for a long time," he said.

OTHER COLLEGES

A survey of other colleges around the Boston area showed that Northeastern university has the only college police force that does not carry firearms. Northeastern Police Chief Roy Lynch explained that there has never been a need to use them in the five years that he has been at Northeastern.

Boston University police carry guns only between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., B.U. Captain Paul M. Bates said yesterday, but there has been no occasion to fire at anyone in the last 20 years, he said.

Both Tufts and M.I.T. policemen have always carried sidearms, but neither has had to use a gun in the last seven years.

Cambridge police said that two men rather than one were involved in the motorcycle theft that brought about Tuesday's shooting. The motorcycle belonged to a Harvard student in Leverett House.

Both men were in the act of stealing the motorcycle, police said, when Jones commanded them to stop. As the men drove the motorcycle away, Jones drew his gun and fired one round at the men at a range of 15 feet.

The motorcycle continued, but 45 minutes later Dauphine appeared at the Boston City Hospital where he was immediately put on the danger list. He denies having been shot by the officer.

A 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, registered in Dauphine's name, and a bolt cutter, apparently used to cut the chain securing the motorcycle, were found at the scene.

The Cambridge police yesterday sought warrants charging Dauphine with larceny and assault with a dangerous weapon.