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Brandeis Armed

(Click here to view the original thread on the MassCops Message Board)

Posted by: Rockwell

Reinharz decides to arm campus police



By: Anya Bergman

Posted: 9/18/07

University President Jehuda Reinharz made a landmark decision Wednesday morning when he announced that the University would begin arming its campus police officers with handguns. The question of whether the officers should be armed has arisen before, most recently following the Virginia Tech shootings last April, with officers arguing that they need guns to perform their jobs effectively and administrators countering that the low crime rate on campus makes guns an unnecessary tool.

But with the release of a fire arms committee's recommendation to arm the officers, Vice President of Campus Operations Mark Collins said, all officers will undergo firearm training within the next three months under Waltham and state police officers. Most officers have already been trained by the state to operate firearms, former Union representative Ron Haley told the Justice in April 2006.

Training and arming officers will cost around $100,000, Executive Vice President of Campus Operations Peter French said.

Reinharz convened the firearms advisory committee comprised of administrators, students, faculty and staff over the summer. The committee, while at first divided, the report said, ultimately recommended to arm the officers.

"I started this process with really a very open mind, and I was very mindful of the pros and cons of arming or not arming," said French, who chaired the committee. "As we went through the discussion and the presentations throughout the summer, I really came to the conclusion, as did the committee, that it was appropriate to arm the Brandeis police officers."

"I think that the committee report speaks for itself, and I think that [arming] is a prudent decision," Collins said.

Collins said last month that the shootings at Virginia Polytechnic Institute caused him to rethink his previous stance against arming the officers.

According to the report, some members of the committee were reluctant to arm officers because they feel a college campus should be a protected space, free of guns.

Taletha Derrington (GRAD), an international student who served on the committee, is pleased that her objections to arming the officers are included in the report, but she wrote in an e-mail to the Justice Monday that she still has concerns regarding the final decision.

"I do not think the report's recommendation represents the consensus of the committee accurately-… It was my understanding that we would recommend at least one community forum to share what we learned with the Brandeis community and allow those who were not around during the summer to participate in the discussion," she wrote.

"I had hoped that rather than following the pack of other universities that have armed their police, Brandeis would have stood by its commitment to social justice by making a decision that uses our brains rather than our brawn to address the issue of campus security," Derrington wrote.

Of the 26 private schools in the Association of American Universities, 20 currently arm their police officers, including Harvard University and Brown University.

Students were also reported to feel uneasy about the presence of guns because they have experienced police brutality in their home communities.

Ultimately, the committee decided that the Virginia Tech tragedy changed the context of their deliberations swaying several committee members.

The committee received presentations from Brandeis and Waltham officers, among others, all in support of arming, Collins said.

"I was responsible to make the final presentation on arming the police officers," Haley said. "The Brandeis University police officers are very effectively trained and this is just a tool to perform the job they need to do."

He encouraged the community and the administration to continue supporting the officers.

In a campuswide e-mail earlier this month, French wrote, "In its five meetings, the committee studied practices on other campuses, heard from the Acting Chief of the Waltham Police Department and safety and security officers from other campuses, spoke with Brandeis Public Safety officers, and deliberated the options in depth."

The committee found that, among other things, many members of the University Police force are already trained with municipal police and are licensed to carry firearms.

The report also says that in emergency situations the Brandeis police must call on the Waltham Police to respond. But Waltham officers aren't as familiar with the campus' layout and often take between two and five minutes, and sometimes longer, to arrive on campus.

Currently, Brandeis officers "are not allowed to respond to any situation in which weapons are reported or present," the report says.

"The Waltham police do not know their way around the buildings and campus the way that our officers do. In dangerous and/or highly ambiguous situations, Brandeis Public Safety Officers are able to respond much more quickly, owing to their knowledge of the University's people and physical layout," the report states.

Brandeis Public Safety Officers are able to respond much more quickly, owing to their knowledge of the University's people and physical layout," the report states.

The committee consisted of French, Derrington, Alex Braver '09, Choon Woo Ha '08, Prof. Jon Chilingerian (Heller) and Prof. Marya Levenson (EDU), as well as Financial Services staffer Sherri Avery and Alumni?Relations staffer Elisa Gassel.

Callahan, Collins, University spokesperson Lorna Miles, Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer and General Counsel Judith Sizer attended meetings as support staff, the report says.

The administration recently added several emergency communications procedures on campus, including voice and text messaging to campus telephones, text messaging to cell phones and outdoor sirens.

"Everybody's happy," one anonymous police officer said. The officer was granted anonymity because officers are prohibited from speaking to the media. © Copyright 2007 The Justice


Posted by: new guy

Good decision, congrats to the Officer's at Brandies. Hopefully more will follow.


Posted by: BartA1

Congrats to the guys and gals at Brandeis the administration has finally seen fit to give you the tools to do your jobs.


Posted by: pahapoika

do these guys get more money for pack'n heat ?


Posted by: Killjoy

Quote:
"I had hoped that rather than following the pack of other universities that have armed their police, Brandeis would have stood by its commitment to social justice by making a decision that uses our brains rather than our brawn to address the issue of campus security," Derrington wrote.
What a boob....go ahead and try to out-smart a bullet and see how that works out for you, honey. If people are being mowed down by a killer, how exactly does that serve the cause of "social justice"?

A word of advice to all those ivory-tower intellectuals...if you're a sheep, continue to stick your head in the grass and graze...let the sheepdogs do their job and protect the herd from the wolves.

Kudos to Brandies, and for the President for making the right decision...its long overdue!


Posted by: sgtsmithers

Currently, Brandeis officers "are not allowed to respond to any situation in which weapons are reported or present," the report says.



Is this actually written in their agency's policies/procedures/rules/regs manual? Do other institutions have this or similar?
</IMG>


Posted by: CPT Chaos

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rockwell

According to the report, some members of the committee were reluctant to arm officers because they feel a college campus should be a protected space, free of guns.
Gee, I hope the bad guys agree with this...


Posted by: masterb183

We live in new times now..... I can't think of a Campus that shouldn't have armed police. It seems that almost everyone wants to be reactive instead of proactive. Which is why we will continue to have the problems that we have had in the past. The criminals get stronger while law abiding citizens are made weaker by "criminal friendly " laws. With that being said,this is great news.


Posted by: Delta784

Quote:
Originally Posted by Killjoy
What a boob....go ahead and try to out-smart a bullet and see how that works out for you, honey. If people are being mowed down by a killer, how exactly does that serve the cause of "social justice"?
The Waltham cops call Brandeis students and faculty "Brandeisians" because they're clearly not of this world.


Posted by: HELPMe

good for them..been a long time coming.


Posted by: 5-0

Congratulations guys. Does anyone know where you can get a copy of that report? I may accidentally leave it on my Chief's desk.


Posted by: NEPS

Quote:
Originally Posted by masterb183
I can't think of a Campus that shouldn't have armed police.
Ditto. "Police" should mean a standard set of authority, training, and ability. Firearms should be part of that set.

Further, if a college administration is not willing to trust the officers it hires with firearms then it should not be allowed to entrust them with police powers.


Posted by: DodgeRam

The students up there are completely out of their minds- This is from the student newspaper online:

Don't Tase Me, Bro

posted 9/19/07 @ 12:33 PM EST

nuff said. Don't trust campus police. They're just egomaniacal pigs hell bent on torturing students because they are not bright enough to be able to beat innocent blacks with the LAPD. For shame.


Posted by: LA Copper

Quote:
Originally Posted by DodgeRam
The students up there are completely out of their minds- This is from the student newspaper online:

Don't Tase Me, Bro

posted 9/19/07 @ 12:33 PM EST

nuff said. Don't trust campus police. They're just egomaniacal pigs hell bent on torturing students because they are not bright enough to be able to beat innocent blacks with the LAPD. For shame.
Hey, how did we get brought up here!? Is there a way to respond back to these fools? If so, please post the link so I can comment about us "beating innocent folks."


Posted by: DodgeRam

http://media.www.thejusticeonline.co...-2974937.shtml

Quote:
Originally Posted by LA Copper
Hey, how did we get brought up here!? Is there a way to respond back to these fools? If so, please post the link so I can comment about us "beating innocent folks."



Posted by: masscopguy

They also still have a couple of slots open there. I have been told that they will send you to the SSPA pay you each week and offer you overtime while you are home from New Braintree on the weekends.


Posted by: LA Copper

Quote:
Originally Posted by DodgeRam
Thank you.


Posted by: Dragnet

If the patch says "police" then the person wearing that uniform should have a firearm. Otherwise, the patch should say "security" or they should wear suits and a name tag. Police Officers carry guns in this country (or should be). DRAGNET


Posted by: RCPD33

Congratulations guys. Does anyone know where you can get a copy of that report? I may accidentally leave it on my Chief's desk.

If our own president could get her head out of her own ass for awhile, maybe she would come around as well. Wishful thinking.

Congrats to you Brandeis Officers!


Posted by: copcreamer

Oy Vey!


Posted by: pahapoika

Greater Boston on ch 2 did a piece on Brandeis getting armed and even though the host did her best to bring up the "can we trust these guys with guns" BS , the president of Brandeis did a nice job of defending the decision and the Chief from BU backed up the move by stating his guys have been armed for 30 years.

only the Brandeis president and BU Chief showed up even though the unarmed schools were invited to the show

all in all a good showing for a liberal tv station .


Posted by: Wiggum_1

Well, all the granola munchers and liberals-in-training are rallying the troops
http://media.www.thejusticeonline.co...-2988395.shtml

And here's an " Op-Ed" piece by one of the little darlings that has had a few run ins with the Brandeis PD
http://media.www.thejusticeonline.co...ntedstoriestab


Posted by: 5-0

I seriously don't even know where to start with that nonsense... I was going to post a comment, but didn't want to waste the time registering an account. Please God, let Col. Dave Grossman take over campus policing in Mass.

http://www.killology.com/schoolattack.htm


Posted by: mechanixman

Do the Brandeis and Waltham police eat at the Chateau?


Posted by: HousingCop

Quote:
Originally Posted by mechanixman
Do the Brandeis and Waltham police eat at the Chateau?
If there is a Masscops beat-down of mechanixman in the woods, will it hurt and will anybody hear it?
You are now my official "Tool 'O The Year" award winner with all of your spectacular questions and posts on MC.com.


Posted by: soxrock75

Quote:
Originally Posted by HousingCop
If there is a Masscops beat-down of mechanixman in the woods, will it hurt and will anybody hear it?
You are now my official "Tool 'O The Year" award winner with all of your spectacular questions and posts on MC.com.




Posted by: screamineagle

Quote:
Originally Posted by HousingCop
If there is a Masscops beat-down of mechanixman in the woods, will it hurt and will anybody hear it?
You are now my official "Tool 'O The Year" award winner with all of your spectacular questions and posts on MC.com.

HC, you are are the winner of the "YOU FUCKING ROCK IN MY BOOK" award. Keep up the good work. lmao.


Posted by: 5-0

Quote:
Originally Posted by screamineagle
HC, you are are the winner of the "YOU FUCKING ROCK IN MY BOOK" award. Keep up the good work. lmao.
lol


Posted by: KozmoKramer

Quote:
Originally Posted by HousingCop
If there is a Masscops beat-down of mechanixman in the woods, will it hurt and will anybody hear it?
You are now my official "Tool 'O The Year" award winner with all of your spectacular questions and posts on MC.com.
Ohh man.... The HCisms...Gotta love it..


Posted by: Irish Wampanoag

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dragnet
If the patch says "police" then the person wearing that uniform should have a firearm. Otherwise, the patch should say "security" or they should wear suits and a name tag. Police Officers carry guns in this country (or should be). DRAGNET
Absolutely!!


Posted by: fscpd907

Admin defends decision to arm officers



By: Rachel Marder

Posted: 10/16/07

Administrators defended University President Jehuda Reinharz's recent decision to arm the campus public safety officers next year at last Thursday's faculty meeting, and a group of students is mobilizing to confront the decision this week.

Chief Operating Officer Peter French, who chaired the firearms advisory committee that submitted a recommendation to Reinharz in favor of arming the officers, discussed the circumstances of the decision and responded to several questions from faculty members. The committee was formed in the wake of the shootings at Virginia Polytechnic Institute last April.

Ben Serby '08, who formed a Facebook group called "Students for a Gunfree Brandeis" to protest the decision, said he hopes to gather around 30 students to accompany him at Reinharz's office hours this Thursday afternoon to present a petition signed by several hundred students and dozens of faculty and staff who oppose either the decision-making process or the decision to arm in general.

Before officers are armed, they must pass physical and medical examinations and a psychological test, French said. After passing the tests, sergeants will be armed by early May and officers by the end of Spring 2008.

"If any of our police are deemed inappropriate to carry a gun, they will not carry a gun," Reinharz said.

All 20 officers will undergo training by the Waltham police at their training academy, French said, even though eight are already licensed to carry firearms.

"There's urgency attached to Public Safety, and we proceeded as quickly as we could," French said. "The community should be prepared for the worst even if it has not happened here."

At the faculty meeting, Prof. Sabine Von Mering (GRALL) asked French how the committee knows that an armed police force can respond to an emergency more effectively and whether they conducted research on the subject.

French answered that the committee consulted Waltham and Brandeis police officers and solicited outside advice. Von Mering repeated her question, seeking a more complete answer.

Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan spoke about the decision.

"Individuals have come to campus with knives and guns," he said. Although the officers haven't needed guns to defend the community in the past, Callahan said it's important for the University to be proactive.

"We will be developing protocols, as have other colleges and universities such as Bentley and Tufts, regulating the use of that force," French said.

Currently, if the Department of Public Safety receives a call that involves the threat of a deadly weapon, officers call the Waltham Police Department for backup and have to wait up to around 10 minutes for police to arrive, French said.

Prof. Stephen Burg (POL), also responding to Von Mering, said a properly trained armed police force creates an image to outsiders that Brandeis is well protected and prepared.

"The reality is we are perceived as a Jewish institution," he said. "We have always been perceived as a potential target."

Reinharz spoke briefly about how he changed his mind on the arming issue. In 1995, after being presented with the same recommendation, Reinharz said he didn't follow it because he didn't believe arming was warranted at that time.

Reinharz and French, however, both said the world has changed since then, and Brandeis must keep up. Aside from the Virginia Tech incident, a shooting took place last Friday at Delaware State University.

"We have a very aggressive policy ... in [the Department of] Student Life so if we see any problems among students, we intervene very quickly," Reinharz said.

Eddy discussed a training program this semester that will teach faculty how to identify troubling signs in students. Robert Berlin, director of the Psychological Counseling Center, will lead the program.

Serby said he opposes the way in which the administration decided to arm the officers as well as the decision itself, explaining in a phone interview that the debate didn't include enough students, faculty or staff. The student-petition he will present to Reinharz this Thursday states that "The advisory committee did not conduct an objective and thorough study and did not fully represent the Brandeis community."

"Submitting the petition is a step that we'd like to take because it mobilizes people on this issue in a very direct and real way," Serby said.

Serby added that he and around seven to 10 students who meet weekly to discuss the issue are considering submitting a resolution to the Student Union expressing the student body's disapproval with the decision.

"I'm not expecting that [Reinharz] will really listen to us…but I do think it's important that we not stand idly by," he said. The petitions are mostly symbolic in nature, he said.


Posted by: mpd61

The saddest part of these students "critical" thinking as "adult learners" is the lack of common sense 101.

As they grew up they probably never saw the need to protest the police being armed in "their community". I'm willing to bet that as they grow and raise families later, they will not protest the police officers serving "their community" and being armed to protect "their kids".

Violent criminal activity, terrorism, school shoootings, etc etc... What do these young expect the police to do to protect them without ALL the tools?



Posted by: Dan8784

Congrats, about time, now if all the other colleges would do this.


Posted by: Macop

Its about time, no lets see which other colleges are smart enough to follow suit. What is the time frame for the Brandies Police Department to get thier heaters?


Posted by: fscpd907

Firearms group to convene



By: Ariel Wittenberg

Posted: 11/6/07

Brandeis will form a firearms committee composed of students, faculty, staff and administrators that will be responsible for writing policies involving the arming of campus police, University President Jehuda Reinharz announced in a memorandum last week.

Student Union President Shreeya Sinha '09 will be one of three student representatives on the committee and is responsible for choosing the two others from among a pool of applicants.

"The Student Union has been speaking to the administration to advocate for a transparent process-one in which student voices are heard-as the University moves forward with the arming of our campus police," Sinha wrote in a campus wide e-mail Monday night.

Reinharz chose to arm the officers last September after a firearms advisory committee of students, staff and faculty, which met over the summer, made that recommendation.

The committee will be chaired by Chief Operating Officer Peter French, Sinha wrote. The application, which was attached to Sinha's e-mail, is due Nov. 8 at 7 p.m., and the representatives will be chosen by Nov. 16.

"We are looking for students who are willing and able to communicate the different points of view on this issue and who will provide constructive insight on the future of this process," Sinha said.

Aside from attending committee meetings, the representatives will hold open meetings where members of the student body can voice their opinions on the committee's proceedings, Sinha said.

Sinha said she expects many students will apply for the positions, as the arming of campus police is an issue that is "big on campus." She added that she believes the formation of the committee is an indication of how students at Brandeis can make a difference in the community.

According to Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan, who will serve on the committee, the group will look at firearms policies at other schools, such as Tufts University, Brown University and Wellesley College.

"Firearms are not new to academia," Callahan said. "[This policy] shouldn't be difficult to set in place."

A group of 23 students submitted a petition signed by 830 undergraduates, 16 staff and 20 faculty members at Reinharz's office hours Oct. 18 that disputed the decision to arm and the manner in which it was made, but that protest had nothing to do with the formation of this committee, Vice President of Campus Operations Mark Collins explained.

"[The committee] was thought up well in advance," he said. "There were discussions about forming a group long before they went to his office."

At that meeting, Reinharz made a commitment to keep students informed about procedures involving the arming, and Ben Serby '10, who created who created a campus club called Students Opposed to the Decision to Arm, said the formation of this committee is a fulfillment of that commitment.

"I think that our meeting with him had a big impact," Serby said.

Serby said SODA won't focus on the committee's proceedings, as they are still attempting to get the actual decision to arm overturned.

SODA members convened outside of the Shapiro Campus Center at 10 p.m. last Monday night for an event titled "Use chalk, not guns," in which they wrote in chalk all over campus to raise awareness for their cause.

"A lot of people thought that after our meeting with Reinharz we sort of lost momentum," Serby said. "We want people on campus to know about us and see that we are taking action. We want to engage our passive and quit allies to join our cause." © Copyright 2007 The Justice


Posted by: Macop

Brandeis will form a firearms committee composed of students, faculty, staff and administrators that will be responsible for writing policies involving the arming of campus police, University President Jehuda Reinharz announced in a memorandum last week.

Are you kidding me? What do a bunch of snotty, spoiled kids know about firearms policies for a Police department?


Posted by: id1811xecj

I have always thought that shooting center of mass was too aggressive. I think a policy requiring shooting weapons out of the assailants hans is best.


Posted by: SSPO#11

I can't wait to hear the policies that the students make regarding the firearms. I can only imagine.....

#11


Posted by: Kilvinsky

Policy 1: shoot first ask questions later
Policy 2: When in doubt, shoot it out.
Policy 3: Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
Policy 4: Duck and cover? HELL NO!

Reality is, they can come up with any policy they want, but when the perverbial poop hits the fan, the guy with the gun makes the final descision.

Firearms are a real last resort and should not be treated lightly, but my favorite motto and one I've stood by for decades is:

BETTER TO HAVE AND NOT NEED, THEN NEED AND NOT HAVE.

I pray to God I never have to shoot someone, but I'm glad I have to tool to do it if, God forbid, I have to, no matter who I'm protecting, but especially me.


Posted by: Kilvinsky

Quote:
Originally Posted by fscpd907
Admin defends decision to arm officers



By: Rachel Marder

Posted: 10/16/07


"There's urgency attached to Public Safety, and we proceeded as quickly as we could," French said. "The community should be prepared for the worst even if it has not happened here."

At the faculty meeting, Prof. Sabine Von Mering (GRALL) asked French how the committee knows that an armed police force can respond to an emergency more effectively and whether they conducted research on the subject.

French answered that the committee consulted Waltham and Brandeis police officers and solicited outside advice. Von Mering repeated her question, seeking a more complete answer.

Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan spoke about the decision.

"Individuals have come to campus with knives and guns," he said. Although the officers haven't needed guns to defend the community in the past, Callahan said it's important for the University to be proactive.

Prof. Stephen Burg (POL), also responding to Von Mering, said a properly trained armed police force creates an image to outsiders that Brandeis is well protected and prepared.

"The reality is we are perceived as a Jewish institution," he said. "We have always been perceived as a potential target."

Reinharz spoke briefly about how he changed his mind on the arming issue. In 1995, after being presented with the same recommendation, Reinharz said he didn't follow it because he didn't believe arming was warranted at that time. I applaud the move to arm, but think this rationale is absurd. "Now that people are getting shot at other schools, we will arm. The horse left the barn many years ago and we've just decided to put up a barn door NOW."

Reinharz and French, however, both said the world has changed since then, and Brandeis must keep up. Aside from the Virginia Tech incident, a shooting took place last Friday at Delaware State University. And at Brandeis several years ago, or did EVERYONE at that school forget the man who shot his wife and then himself or the nut who killed his professor? Short term memory issues here or what?

Eddy discussed a training program this semester that will teach faculty how to identify troubling signs in students. Robert Berlin, director of the Psychological Counseling Center, will lead the program. It's nice to see that they are also looking at addressing and possibly removing potential threats who happen to be students.

Serby said he opposes the way in which the administration decided to arm the officers as well as the decision itself, explaining in a phone interview that the debate didn't include enough students, faculty or staff. The student-petition he will present to Reinharz this Thursday states that "The advisory committee did not conduct an objective and thorough study and did not fully represent the Brandeis community." Those who drop by for four years and leave SHOULD have the same say as those who do and have worked there for years longer. These kids should find a REAL cause to deal with and stop screwing around with real life.

"I'm not expecting that [Reinharz] will really listen to us…but I do think it's important that we not stand idly by," he said. The petitions are mostly symbolic in nature, he said.
It's about time. Slowly but surly the academic world is waking up to reality. Thank God no cops have died yet as a result of these childish delays. Good luck and congratulations to the Brandeis Police!


Posted by: fscpd907

Police most likely armed by summer

by Deborah Frisch and Lital Shair

The arming of Brandeis police officers will most likely begin in late spring or early summer, according to Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan.

Currently, Brandeis public safety officers are being trained in the use of firearms, Callahan wrote in an e-mail to the Justice. No officers have been armed yet.

"Training has been underway for weeks and is presently ongoing," Callahan wrote.

University President Jehuda Reinharz reached the decision to arm campus police last September based on the recommendations of a committee of students, faculty and staff that convened over the summer.

Student opinion on the decision is sharply divided, and Reinharz announced the formation of a firearms advisory committee responsible for writing policies involving the arming of campus police last November following a student protest during his office hours.

The officers will not be armed until there is a set policy in place, said Matt Rogers '08, one of the students on the firearms advisory committee the first meeting of which took place last Thursday.

According to Callahan, training will entail the same procedures as firearms training for the Waltham police officers. "This includes, among other things classroom, range and simulation exercises," Callahan wrote.

Student, faculty and staff representatives of the committee attended last Thursday's meeting, Rogers said. During the meeting, committee members "discussed the beginning of a possible policy, but nothing by any means [was] set in stone," Rogers said. The committee is drafting a wide range of policies regarding the arming of campus police, he added.

Callahan said that the policy will attempt to address student concerns which have been raised about this controversial decision.

"We'll be making sure that the committee addresses all the concerns that the students have," Rogers said. There have been varied student responses to this policy, Callahan wrote, and "as always it is important to maintain open channels of communication with all community members."

The next meeting of the firearms advisory committee will be Tuesday, March 4, Rogers said, and will consist of presentations by experts about comparable policies on other campuses. In order to best represent student opinion to the committee, "we're looking to have a forum before our next meeting," Rogers said.


Posted by: rg1283

Firearms Policy will consist of: 1. Common Sense Gun Safety, and 2 Don't point the gun at anything your not going to shoot at.

Policy is now complete. Thank You,


Posted by: xxafspxx

3. Treat all firearms as if they are loaded even when cleaning!!


Posted by: Irish Wampanoag

ITS ABOUT F$%KING TIME

Congratulations

You'll shoot your eye out kid!!!


Posted by: GALEWINDS

Horse play is not allowed, treat it right


Posted by: Kilvinsky

Quote:
Originally Posted by fscpd907 View Post
Police most likely armed by summer

by Deborah Frisch and Lital Shair


The officers will not be armed until there is a set policy in place, said Matt Rogers '08, one of the students on the firearms advisory committee...
Let's just hope that only INTELLIGENT suggestions from this committee are even considered.

Keep up the good work Brandeis, and remember, the day you all start to carry, show how happy you all are by standing in front of the station and firing three rounds into the air! It'll be like an Iraqi wedding!!!

How many of you out there can picture one of those idiot students reading that and saying, "I'm SURE they would do just that if we weren't keeping a close eye on them and guiding them!"?


Posted by: resqjyw0

What is it with people posting the exact same thing in multiple threads?


Posted by: kwflatbed

Quote:
Originally Posted by resqjyw0 View Post
What is it with people posting the exact same thing in multiple threads?
Duplicate deleted


Posted by: fscpd907

Police officers to carry guns by fall



By: Lital Shair

Posted: 5/20/08

All Brandeis Public Safety officers will be armed by the time students return to campus in the fall, according to Chief of Public Safety Ed Callahan.

Callahan said that the 11 or 12 Public Safety officers who have successfully completed the required tests will be armed by June 2.

Officers will be expected to carry firearms during all of their shifts once they are armed. The firearms are the property of the University. When not in use they must be secured and then stowed in a separate locker, which is monitored by closed-circuit television.

Concerns regarding the process of arming the police include the circumstances under which officers can use firearms, whether the officers will carry them all the time and whether the guns will intimidate students.

In response to these concerns, the Firearms Policy Advisory Committee came up with a report, which was written by Senior Vice President of Communication Lorna Miles, detailing the required training and tests officers must undergo in order to carry firearms, as well as the conditions under which an officer may use his gun.

The policy "outlines a continuum of force, which basically entails different steps and different processes [for dealing with situations that may entail the use of firearms]," said Callahan. The policy was developed after looking at similar policies at nearby institutions such, as Tufts University.

The policy can now be found on the Public Safety Web site, along with a list of frequently asked questions regarding the use of firearms at Brandeis.

"For most practices, that continuum of force works in escalation and de-escalation form," said Callahan, and "it's up to the officer to determine where he or she can start" in the continuum of responses.

The first step in the process is verbalization, followed by physical strength and/or hand control. Next comes the use of a chemical substance such as oleoresin capsicum, a spray similar to pepper spray, which all Public Safety Officers carry. The next step is use of an impact weapon/defensive force, which entails a police baton, and lastly, the use of deadly force/firearms.

"Deadly force can be employed ONLY when an officer reasonably believes that the action is in defense of human life," the policy reads. "Every means of employing the minimum amount of force [must] be exhausted before moving to a more severe application."

"I think [the continuum of force] was one of the most important pieces of information for students to know … [because] it relieves concerns for students to know that process," said committee member and immediate past Student Union president Shreeya Sinha '09. According to Sinha, it was important for students "just to know that there would be verbal warnings" before officers would use a firearm, so that "students also know that this is a very carefully thought-out implementation process."

The policy also discusses that officers must receive physical, psychological and sensitivity training. "All of the officers had to go through a medical testing process, … and they had to go through a group psychological test and individual psychological test," said Callahan.

"It is the goal of the psychological evaluation process to ensure that only mature and well controlled police officers are equipped with weapons," said Callahan in an e-mail to the Justice. "All of the psychological evaluations inclusive of individual, group and written tests were initiated to determine if there were any mental health/emotional stability concerns as well as any aggressive/violent tendencies that would eliminate an officer from carrying a firearm," wrote Callahan.

The policy says that in a seminar titled "Managing Cultural Diversity at Brandeis," officers learned how to deal with cultural differences and values, how to understand body language in communication and how to "work through actual conflict case resolution."

According to Callahan, after completing the aforementioned training, officers completed an extensive two-week program with the Waltham police. Officers must be recertified to carry weapons every six months, said Callahan. According to Callahan, all Public Safety officers who carry firearms must possess a license to carry a firearm issued by the Waltham Police Department upon completion of training by Waltham Police firearms instructors certified by the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Council.

According to Miles, arming the campus police is the last piece of the University's Safety and Security Emergency Response, which includes the emergency broadcasting system that was implemented last semester and consists of sirens and Universitywide text messaging in case of emergency.

Callahan said, "We have this wonderful abundance of technology where you can communicate to students that there is an emergency, ... [but] you still have the police showing up without the proper tools" to deal with the situation. He said that Public Safety officers know the Brandeis campus, buildings and culture of the school better than the Waltham police.

The policy also stresses the importance of "straightforward, consistent and continued communication" in the implementation of the firearms policy.

"There's going to be a committee formed in the fall," said Sinha. "Hopefully they can start looking at ways to bring students and Public Safety together" in an effort to increase communication. This effort is the Public Safety University Committee, which is currently being organized by Student Union President Jason Gray '10.

"I hope that as the police are armed in this coming year we will be able to monitor the implementation, keep open the lines of communication and provide ways to ensure that students feel safe on this campus and then have the venue to express their concerns if they have one," said Gray, who organized a forum last semester to receive student input regarding the process of arming campus police.

The Public Safety Web site says that Public Safety officers will carry Glock .40-caliber automatics. In addition, this process of arming, including training and equipment, will cost less than $100,000 and will not affect tuition.


Posted by: celticsfan

Quote:
Originally Posted by rg1283 View Post
Firearms Policy will consist of: 1. Common Sense Gun Safety, and 2 Don't point the gun at anything your not going to shoot at.

Policy is now complete. Thank You,
If only a certain western Mass. Sheriff's firearm instructor had this knowledge!


Posted by: Kilvinsky

Oh Dear God, after reading that story I just want to go vomit. Only when the cops carry a gun are the students worried that they are trigger happy racists who will be out shooting every minority that wanders on the campus.

These people are trained professionals and will only shoot someone if they feel there is a need! That should be the ONLY line, but of course when having to apease these morons you have to almost agree to keep the ammunition stored two miles away and only a supervisor has the key to the building in which the locked room contains the safe that houses the ammunition, so that IF a VERY BAD PERSON comes on campus and has shot at least one cop, then and only then, can the cop who has been shot go WITH A SUPERVISOR to get the ammunition so that he can shoot back, provided that the person is STILL in the same position and still holding the gun and ONLY if the officer can prove that the offender INTENDS to shoot someone else.

College campuses are the most screwed up places on the face of the Earth and having worked at two over the course of 28 years, I think I have a clue what I'm talking about.

The sad/funny thing is, there has not been ONE shooting of a student by a cop on ONE campus in all of Massachusetts and these imbiciles are still all waiting for a massacre.

Yeah, I'm pissed.


Posted by: Delta784

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kilvinsky View Post
Oh Dear God, after reading that story I just want to go vomit. Only when the cops carry a gun are the students worried that they are trigger happy racists who will be out shooting every minority that wanders on the campus.

These people are trained professionals and will only shoot someone if they feel there is a need!
It's not the cops that these people are worried about, it's the guns. Don't you know by now that guns are animate, sentient objects which are fully capable of wholesale slaughter, completely independent of human interaction?


Posted by: Kilvinsky

Quote:
Originally Posted by Delta784 View Post
It's not the cops that these people are worried about, it's the guns. Don't you know by now that guns are animate, sentient objects which are fully capable of wholesale slaughter, completely independent of human interaction?
I'd say "touche", but then some dipshit on Framingham's campus will be saying, "Oh, now the cops want to carry SWORDS!"

lol

Delta, you made a very valid point, but you have to admit, most cops ARE trigger happy racists! I, for one tend to follow anyone who looks Swedish!
You just can't trust those blondies and I just may loose control and shoot one some night!


Dear Lord, do not ever put me in a position where I have to shoot someone who is blond. Their lawyer will get ahold of this and I'll be toast, no matter how heavilly armed he/she might be!


Posted by: celticsfan

The truth is, people don't want armed cops on their campus because it is an admission that their college isn't candy land. I truly think these people (want to) believe that they live in a place "so safe we our cops don't even have guns." People used to say the same about the Constables in the UK. Well, after a certain shooting at a Scotland elementary school and about 20 years of gun crime and terrorism, the cops I saw walking around in London were carrying machine guns.

The world has never been Candy Land. We did have some extraordinarily safe years in this country during the post war "Pax Americana" period, but they are over. There are nutjobs in every state--and some of them (gasp) venture onto or near our college campuses.


Posted by: Thimios315

Quote:
Originally Posted by fscpd907 View Post
The Public Safety Web site says that Public Safety officers will carry Glock .40-caliber automatics.

Where can I get my hands on one of those "automatics" ? ? ?


Posted by: Q5-TPR

Glock Model 18, available at your local Class III dealer. Didn't know they issued them to the rank and file. Maybe my job should look into it! Push that up for me Killjoy!


Posted by: robodope

Lets face it most of the student body, and college administration is not exactly going to be pro-police. My problem with this is the people making the decision to arm the PD have no background or expertise on this issue. If you are going to have a professional Police force then equip it and arm it . If not call it security and don't put them out there like a bunch of walking targets. If I had my way standardize their (Campus PD's) training, equipment, and powers and give the line of work the attention, consistency, and professionalism it deserves.


Posted by: Inspector71

Quote:
Originally Posted by robodope View Post
My problem with this is the people making the decision to arm the PD have no background or expertise on this issue. If you are going to have a professional Police force then equip it and arm it . .
Way too simple a concept...it requires common sense from academia and their impressionable sheep (students)



Posted by: Kilvinsky

Quote:
Originally Posted by Inspector71 View Post
Way too simple a concept...it requires common sense from academia and their impressionable sheep (students)
It seems in this instance (FSC) however, the students are on board with the cops. Wow, how in the hell did THAT happen?

Then again, state school, more 'real' people than not go there.


Posted by: mpd61

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kilvinsky View Post
Then again, state school, more 'real' people than not go there.
Halleluah!

At MCC most students love the cops! Too bad the sneior administration hates them all!

GO MACLEA!!!!!!!


Posted by: Killjoy

Quote:
Glock Model 18, available at your local Class III dealer. Didn't know they issued them to the rank and file. Maybe my job should look into it! Push that up for me Killjoy!
We are already researching those...we call them "patrol machine pistols".


Posted by: Kilvinsky

Quote:
Originally Posted by mpd61 View Post
Halleluah!

At MCC most students love the cops!
Back when I was a lowly student myself there, as part of project for a class, I did a random survey that I made up and had my fellow students fill out a questionaire about the cops. I was pleasantly surprised that most knew who the cops were and what they did, recognizing that they were indeed, COPS! The vast majority were quite positive also.

Then again, there was the one or two who were clueless and a couple who were told "NO" by the police and hence, didn't like them one bit.

I didn't focus on any age group, race or anything at all, just a very random survey.

That was a long time ago, I think even before you were there WoodMan.

Class of '91! GO BROCKTON STATE UNIVERSITY!


Posted by: aneva28

I like Brandeis, they always keep to themselves and they are great people. I am glad they got armed after all the things that happened in and around their campus. Take Brothers and Sisters




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