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Main Page Arming All Campus Police Departments?
(Click here to view the original thread on the MassCops Message Board)

Posted by: bluenote

Schools evaluate safety procedures

By Dan Baer / The Daily Item
With yet another campus shooter taking the lives of five Northern Illinois University students late Thursday before killing himself, local colleges are forced to once again review their own safety procedures, and in the case of some schools, re-open the debate as to whether campus police should carry weapons.

When campus attacks happen, they happen fast. Virginia Tech shooter Seung Hui Cho killed most of his victims in a 9-minute rampage inside a building in 2007. Thursday's attacker, former NIU graduate student Steven Kazmierczak, concealed two weapons in a jacket and guitar case, burst into a lecture hall and shot 18 people in a matter of minutes, before taking his own life.

When shots ring out, campus police are the closest to the scene, and are often forced to set up a perimeter and wait for armed local officials to respond to the call. According to State Police statistics, it can take SWAT teams up to 45 minutes to assemble and respond to a call.

At Salem State College, campus police have been outfitted with weapons since 2006, as a first line of defense in a violent situation. The school was the only area institution that reported having armed campus police at an April 2007 forum hosted by District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett, and has since added a phone and text-message alert system for students in the event of an attack.

The text message system, run by ConnectEd, the same company responsible for the reverse phone systems used by many public school districts in the area, including Lynn, allows students to receive messages in nine different ways if an attack is happening.

The system has the capability of calling two cellular phones, two landlines, sending text messages to one phone, and alerting two email addresses if a campus attack were to take place.
The system is designed to keep students in one safe place, while the armed campus police respond to the area of attack.

"We have had the emergency text message system up and running in January," said SSC Spokesman Jim Glynn. "It was actually in response to the Virginia Tech shooting. That told us that we had to communicate toward a variety of channels."

Salem State Campus Police are trained in the same police academy as municipal police officers, and also attend State Police active shooting training. According to Police Chief William Anglin, they have access to both shotguns and AR15 handguns, and wear bulletproof vests as part of their standard uniform.

"We have 28 police officers all armed and trained with the exact same standards as every other department in the commonwealth," he said. "We are also trained with the Massachusetts State Police in active shooter training. We go into the building and act out shooter scenarios, using air-light paintball-like guns. We are basically the police department for Salem State. We are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year."

Anglin said the department has recently added cameras to every building, along with 25 flat-screen televisions so they can broadcast in the case of an attack. The Chief said the school hopes to have every room on campus outfitted with an emergency phone device by next year.
Take a trip down Route 1A to North Shore Community College, and things are not moving in the same direction. Unarmed guards roam the campus, and unlike SSC, police officers do not have police-issued vehicles with caged back seats.
NSCC Spokesperson Peggy Justice said campus police attend the State Police Training Academy, but a decision to arm officers would have to come from the school's Board of Trustees before a change can be made.

The State Police do offer a program called State Police Special Tactical Operations (STOP) essentially free of charge to campus police, which NSCC officers do attend. That program offers 12 hours of classroom and mock-response drills, with the only cost coming for the price of blank ammunition - about $20.
NSCC public safety officials were not available for comment Friday.
While the thought of arming campus police was once controversial - even Blodgett admitted to opposing the idea in the past - recent attacks have highlighted a need for officers to be prepared to take on an attacker as the first line of defense.
Blodgett was not available for comment Friday, but did indicate in an Item interview after the forum in 2007 that he had changed his views on arming campus police, because "times have changed.

I like the fact that NSCC spokeperson thinks that they are mall cops. Good to have your department's spokesperson that has no clue what the job is about. Someone should clue her in that they already had an officer shot at inside one of the campuses a few years back. Your Chief needs to step up, like SS Chief Did!!!
When will the state wake up and arm all campus police Department.
State Police need to take the lead and make it part of SSPO Training and part of the requirments? Can anyone say major lawsuit.

Posted by: Killjoy

Quote:

State Police need to take the lead and make it part of SSPO Training and part of the requirments? Can anyone say major lawsuit.

The problem with that is not all of the SSPO officers are armed, hence all of their firearms training is handled off-site by their own agency.

That might be changing in the near future though, as more and more campus departments become armed.

Posted by: 5-0

Did that article say they had access to AR15 handguns? lol

Posted by: rg1283

Yes the article did say that. I'm to the point now, that I wish (unlikely this would ever happen) that a law would be passed requiring all Campus Police Departments of any type (excluding DMR and DMH) to be required to become armed and grants and training would be provided for this.

The odds of this happening are the odds of the POTUS issuing an executive order to have the military secure the US Borders like they should be.

Posted by: new guy

College administrators who refuse to authorize their PD's to carry firearms need to wake up and realize that the real liability lies with being unarmed.
Had the NIU PD been unarmed than they wouldn't have been on scene so quick. Even though the shooter took his own life, the fact that the PD was able to quickly respond, assess, and begin emergency medical treatment for the many wounded undoubtedly saved lives.

Posted by: Sports2398

Its too bad it takes incidents like this to wake the colleges up. However it seems they always come up with some type of excuse as why it isn't likely to happen on THEIR campus.
It seems as though campuses are moving in that direction, hell I can think of several college campus police that were armed in the past few years in MA. It's tough to do your job as a professional police officer without being provided the proper tools. Then you have campus cheifs advising their staff, "well if there's a call involving weapons call your town/city police to respond and you stand down". The problem with that statement is 90% of the time your going to be going to a call and become involved in a situation involving a knife or firearm and then it's to late. These college need to starting thinking about public safety and waking up to this reality that campus are no longer the monistary they would like to believe they are.

Posted by: HOLLYROCK50

I worked at Framingham State College in 1999 and we were unarmed. On my first day there we had to do a felony stop in the middle of the campus for 2 guys that just did a drive-by in south Framingham. Let me tell you there is no worse feeling than trying to arrest someone with a gun when you have a can of peppery spray. Besides the horrible pay, that was the reason I only worked there for a year before moving on.

Posted by: Kilvinsky

college administrators at almost every college have very little sense of the real world. Even where the PD is armed it's amazing how little these people know about what life is like here on earth, though we all know, they THINK they know better than we do.

Every chief has to play politics to some degree, there's no question on that, but any chief who heads an unarmed department that won't even try to discuss the issue with his/her superiors is a disgrace and a sham of a police chief. He/she might be a likeable person and may even look out for the rank and file on some issues, but if you don't have the brass to to make an effort for arming, you should not have that job.

Posted by: HELPMe

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kilvinsky

college administrators at almost every college have very little sense of the real world. Even where the PD is armed it's amazing how little these people know about what life is like here on earth, though we all know, they THINK they know better than we do.

Every chief has to play politics to some degree, there's no question on that, but any chief who heads an unarmed department that won't even try to discuss the issue with his/her superiors is a disgrace and a sham of a police chief. He/she might be a likeable person and may even look out for the rank and file on some issues, but if you don't have the brass to to make an effort for arming, you should not have that job.

I 100% agree. They should pass a law that says you cannot posses police powers unless you are armed.

Posted by: Hb13

I too agree that all campus officers should be armed. I also agree with Kilvinsky in the fact that any chief who allows his officers to patrol the campus grounds with the responsiblity they have and doesn't fight tooth and nail to get them armed is a "disgrace and a sham of a police chief." (couldn't have said it any better)

Posted by: SinePari

As I discussed in another thread all state colleges at a minimum should share the same exact policies regarding arming their officers. Private schools should be mandated by the PD in the town/city they're in to be trained and armed to the same level.

Posted by: Thimios315

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOLLYROCK50

I worked at Framingham State College in 1999 and we were unarmed. On my first day there we had to do a felony stop in the middle of the campus for 2 guys that just did a drive-by in south Framingham. Let me tell you there is no worse feeling than trying to arrest someone with a gun when you have a can of peppery spray. Besides the horrible pay, that was the reason I only worked there for a year before moving on.

H0LLYR0CK50, you are much more generous than I...a place like that doesn't even deserve an hour of someone's time...

I'm glad I never felt such desperation to put my life on the line like that...for peanuts.

Posted by: mpd61

Quote:

Originally Posted by SinePari

As I discussed in another thread all state colleges at a minimum should share the same exact policies regarding arming their officers. Private schools should be mandated by the PD in the town/city they're in to be trained and armed to the same level.

That's probably one of the better proposals Iv'e seen. The problem is that You have BSC, Salem State, Massasoit Community and others FAR right on one end of the scale, and places like Framingham State, BHCC with SSPO and unarmed in the middle, and then places like Massbay, NSCC, and Roxbury that barely operate as security on the far left side.

As I've said before, ALL the state schools and community colleges that currently operate Police Departments should stand on BOTH their own CH73/s.18 and CH15A/s.22 Feet. Most that do already FAR EXCEED the SSPO training standards in the 5:15 CMR. I mean eight (

hours of annual in-service! wow aren't we impressed? Is it any wonder Chief Tillinghast at BSC has done away with SSPO for the second time in a decade? How many U/Mass schools do you see using SSPO?

Posted by: 5-0

Quote:

Originally Posted by SinePari

I totally agree that the city should mandate that a private school come up to the same standards. Most of you know where I work(ed), and I can tell you Worcester is tired of babysitting all of the calls we couldn't handle.

Posted by: sgt128-13

Quote:

Originally Posted by SinePari

For state colleges... absolutely, everyone should be on board the same ship. But for private colleges, the PD in the city or town the college is in, has virtually no say in whether a CPD gets armed. It's more of a courtesy than anything else. Most college PD's going armed these days will far out train most of the municipalities they're in, simply because it shows the willingness of the dept. to surpass a minimum standard. We just shopped out our proposal to Bucknell University in PA and it looks good for them.

Posted by: copchika911

In my opinion I think all campus pd's should be armed. I know this is going to strike up a whole different topic but if you have police on your shoulder you should have a gun on your waiste - if not youre just a big target. I would never wear my uniform and not have my duty weapon. To me thats just crazy. It's like thanks for bringing your OC and Baton to a gun fight. I love the fact that we have local private colleges that host active shooter and the CPO's don't even carry. Maybe they can throw a desk at the perps..?? It's 2008 and sad but true.....people need to die and horrible things need to happen for these liberal assholes to open their eyes. What ever happen to being pro-active? I understand a lot of campuses have the whole security vibe - and most people view them as that - but they're not. Whether you work in Roxbury or Wenham - a cop is a cop and we all need to be properly trained and equipt. Things always get worse before they get better. Stay strong and keep fighting the good fight!!

Posted by: OCKS

A few years ago when Westfield State officers got armed the biggest, people against it were not the students and admistration but the teachers.
The admistration was kind of on the fence, but the teachers were totaly opposed.

Posted by: rg1283

Lets take away the scantron machines and let the teachers do real work! Then they will be missing a tool to do their job.

Posted by: SinePari

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgt128-13

Well I'm no administrative genius but it would seem reasonable to MANDATE private schools to have the level of force necessary where the responding local/state police can have a working relationship at the scene, rather than "keep a perimeter, we'll take it from here" kind of thing.

It also seems apparent that there are too many chiefs (literally) for state colleges, and the need for one person as the director of public safety. As I mentioned before it doesn't matter if you're in Charlestown or Wellesley, shit can happen any where.

If they want to continue to operate under the guise of a non-profit organization, receive BILLIONS of charter dollars and expect a level of free service from local/state police the citizens of said communities should rally the city council and tell them pay taxes, have a full service PD, or take a hike.

Posted by: Kilvinsky

One thing I've never fully understood was why state schools haven't put together a collective purchasing group (poorly worded, but I think you all understand). I know that each feifdom has it's own set of rules and values and norms so a single PD for all the state schools would never come about. Heck, they haven't even done that in California where state school PDs have been progressive for decades. But wouldn't it make sense for all the police chief's to get together and purchase uniforms, vehicles and other equipment (and yes, FIREARMS for the schools with smart administrators) in bulk, thus saving a bunch of $$$???

Just think, Bridgewater State needs to buy three cars. Salem needs two and Mt. Wachusett needs one. Buying 3, 2 and 1 would cost a lot more than buying 6!

If something like this were in place, the next logical step would be standardized hiring and training and God willing, equipping! And all without each school chancellor/president/dean having his power threatened.

Each department could continue to operate as a seperate entity with it's own patch (as a collector, this would make ME happy-selfish bastard that I am) and rank structure, but there would be a little more uniformity and maybe, just maybe, the chiefs could argue that some of that savings could be put toward overdue raises for the rank and file.

Pipe dreams keep me going.

Posted by: mpd61

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kilvinsky

Each department could continue to operate as a seperate entity with it's own patch (as a collector, this would make ME happy-selfish bastard that I am) and rank structure, but there would be a little more uniformity and maybe, just maybe, the chiefs could argue that some of that savings could be put toward overdue raises for the rank and file.

Pipe dreams keep me going.

Jim!

Centralizing State/Community colleges under the BHE or other agency/commision/authority makes sense initially. Of course, the problem really lies in the fact that many people are hanging their hats on the MSP with the SSPO yoke, and all that comes with it:

1. CH22C/s.63 is weaker in authority/scope than CH73/s.18 & 15A/s22
(therefore redundant/conflicting/unnecessary)

2. Most state schools that operate full-spectrum police departments have training standards and policies that far EXCEED the SSPO and in-service requirements of the MSP.

I really think the MSP Cert Unit needs to keep it's overworked resources focused on their PRIMARY reason for existence...
PRIVATE schools and other entities like the Hospitals and small state agencies without their own Statutory authority to operate police departments.

Posted by: sgt128-13

Quote:

Originally Posted by SinePari

Ohhhhh, I see what you're saying. From the point of view to "elevate" private CPD's to at least the same level as local/state PD's. I misread your other post. That's true, but many private schools are in the same boat as state schools to that regard. Where the state legislature is more apt to regulate state schools, they'd be hard press to regulate the private sector in much the same way... unless the whole system was revamped. Let's face it, private schools only have 22C/63 to go by, which isn't much. Anything else is really up to the individual private schools.

Posted by: new guy

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpd61

I think the problem with CH73/s.18 & 15A/s22 is that they have no mandated requirements for training standards under this statute. Atleast I couldn't find any in the wording. This helps allow for the inconsistency that exists between the various state agencies that you mentioned earlier. Adding some type of mandatory requirements for training and equipment for those appointed under this statute would be a good start in closing the gap between the have's and the have nots. As for the private schools, raising the minimum requirements for those sworn under Ch. 22c would also be a good start.

Posted by: mcpd704

Quote:

According to Police Chief William Anglin, they have access to both shotguns and AR15 handguns

Thats true... if you mean the one shotgun and one AR-15 that belong to the chief's son that is kept locked up inside the evidence room. Cant see how that would help out in a crisis after hours when nobody can access the equipment.

Posted by: Kilvinsky

Just knowing a shotgun is on campus will scare away the most hardened criminal! That knowlege will drop violent crime by 23.7% over a 6 week period.

I know that if you had a tank within two miles of your campus, Muggings would drop by 24% over 3 months but student drunkenness would increase 86% (half of which would be looking FOR the tank to take if for a joy ride). It all works out in the end.

A dean told me all this and I'm in no position to doubt a dean! They know EVERYTHING!

Posted by: bluenote

Command staff to be armed at North Shore Comm College.

Now only bad things can happen when a Sergeant is on duty

I should not bitch a guess it is a start.
Now maybe they will hire more Sergeants. Grade 17 step 14 $55,000.00 not bad plus overtime up the ass.
Someone woke up at North Shore

Posted by: trueblue

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kilvinsky

Just knowing a shotgun is on campus will scare away the most hardened criminal! That knowlege will drop violent crime by 23.7% over a 6 week period.

I know that if you had a tank within two miles of your campus, Muggings would drop by 24% over 3 months but student drunkenness would increase 86% (half of which would be looking FOR the tank to take if for a joy ride). It all works out in the end.

A dean told me all this and I'm in no position to doubt a dean! They know EVERYTHING!

kilvinsky275271......You forgot about the 97% drop in night time crime if the dean rents an F15 for three flyovers per week!!!! (Cruise missles are extra)

Posted by: BartA1

bluenote,

I hate to be the one to burst your bubble, but a Campus Police Sgt. at a state or community college is a CPO II which is a grade 15. still 14 years to reach top pay. Topped out Sgt. makes about 47k. On another note glad to see North Shore is arming their supervisors if I am not mistaken thats how Salem State ended up carrying firearms as well.

Posted by: Kilvinsky

Quote:

Originally Posted by trueblue

kilvinsky275271......You forgot about the 97% drop in night time crime if the dean rents an F15 for three flyovers per week!!!! (Cruise missles are extra)

It's a valid point at SOME schools, but not most.
An F-15 would never do. Too much noise. It would have to be a guy on a hang glider with a glove to slap the offenders. Much nicer, though slapping is considered rude.

A bull horn to yell "STOP THAT CRIME"! would be encouranged, but never after 9pm unless it's a weekend, then up until 11:45pm.

Posted by: bluenote

North Shore has already made thier Sergeants CPO III and are about to make everyone else CPO II. Keep it to yourself, the Chief is taking care of his officers, he is looking to make more Sergeants to get them more money becasue the union has no clue, and the Pres is backing the campus police big time-- I even hear that they may get a station when the Lynn campus adds on. What do you stay to someone who slams the department and tells everyone to stay away but then comes knocking on the door for a Job???

Posted by: Kilvinsky

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluenote

What do you stay to someone who slams the department and tells everyone to stay away but then comes knocking on the door for a Job???

You say something along the lines of, "No problem, we've got your application and have filed it in the appropriate shredder. There's the door and thank you for your time."

Calling him/her a total Douche is optional.

In some cases however, that person would be the first one in contention for the Chief's job.

Posted by: Sgt Jack

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluenote

. What do you stay to someone who slams the department and tells everyone to stay away but then comes knocking on the door for a Job???

Oh that's happend already....about two years back someone came on the board and spun a lot half truths about the dept....which I went ahead and had to clarify...allegedly I was told they also later on several months later had the stones to actually interview with the dept....they were not selected....

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluenote

North Shore has already made thier Sergeants CPO III and are about to make everyone else CPO II. Keep it to yourself, the Chief is taking care of his officers, he is looking to make more Sergeants to get them more money becasue the union has no clue, and the Pres is backing the campus police big time

First off....the Chief has nothing to do with the re-allocation....Second of you are right the union hasn't a clue....and after sitting down and having a re-allocation hearing I'm pretty confident that not everyone is going to get it nor should they....some folks have been here only six months and they want a promotion...some of us have done alot for the dept over numerous years....who would you give it to...

Posted by: Will Brink

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5-0

Did that article say they had access to AR15 handguns? lol

Those damn deadly assualt pistols you mean?!

Posted by: 5-0

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will Brink

Those damn deadly assualt pistols you mean?!

I was hoping someone got the joke.

Posted by: Inspector71

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluenote

Ahhh...
CPO III At NSCC? Patrolman as CPO II's? AFSCME and HR are actually doing this? All the other State schools had better watch out! Somebody is gonna get mighty jealous.

Posted by: JMB1977

Congrats to North Shore in starting the arming process. I think Westfield State did the same thing as Salem State, by arming the command staff first for a trial period then eventually armed the entire Department. It does suck that the Officers have to wait to be armed but atleast the process has started. That's more than the rest of the unarmed CPD's can say right now.

Posted by: Kilvinsky

True enough that arming the command staff is a good start, well a start. At least it's a start. But how many times have we met a command staff that is not even 1/2 as smart or educated at the patrol officers.

Hell, I've heard of a CHIEF with just a GED!

Posted by: mpd61

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kilvinsky

But how many times have we met a command staff that is not even 1/2 as smart or educated at the patrol officers.

Hell, I've heard of a CHIEF with just a GED!

Now just what Community College chief could he possibly be talking about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: bluenote

Sgt JACK you should have stayed. They have started to map out the new station, thier is talk of even going to dark shirts with tact pants.
WHERE ARE YOU SGT JACK.

Posted by: celticsfan

I am stunned that Bunker Hill is still not armed. :/

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMB1977

I think Westfield State did the same thing as Salem State, by arming the command staff first for a trial period then eventually armed the entire Department.

Are you serious?

Was there a concern the office furniture was going to attack the command staff??

Posted by: 5-0

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta784

Are you serious?

Was there a concern the office furniture was going to attack the command staff??

You would be surprised Delta. A lot of unarmed departments use the 'give an inch then take a mile' philosophy in order to get armed. It doesn't make any sense tactically, but sometimes ultra-liberal administrators need to get their feet wet before they will jump in.

Posted by: Kilvinsky

Quote:

Originally Posted by celticsfan

I am stunned that Bunker Hill is still not armed. :/

Well, when you situate a college in an area with an extremely low crime rate that is nowhere near any highways or transit lines, guns are really a non-issue.

Then again, even in that situation, a police officer should STILL be armed.

Hey wait, what school are we talking about again? Bunker something?

Posted by: Slimer

North Shore Community College has a campus in Lynn need I say more!

Posted by: Sgt Jack

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluenote

Sgt JACK you should have stayed. They have started to map out the new station, thier is talk of even going to dark shirts with tact pants.
WHERE ARE YOU SGT JACK.

Hey!!! good to hear....look I've been there just about 5 years...for me it was time for a change of scenary....as far as weapons and a station go....there has been talk of that since the day I walked in the place...the only difference now is that it has a lot more momentum...I do hope that it happens for everyone.. as there are a lot of good folks that have and still work there....as for me I'm doing well with the new place..some of it's the same...some of it's different..working in Lynn has helped get me use to the area and everyone seems pretty good so far and I should be off to the range myself in the not to distant future..take care

Posted by: mpd61

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slimer

North Shore Community College has a campus in Lynn need I say more!

Well, when you situate a college in an area with an extremely low crime rate that is nowhere near any highways or transit lines, guns are really a non-issue.

Then again, even in that situation, a police officer should STILL be armed.

Hey wait, what school are we talking about again? Bunker something?

GO MCLEA all state schools revolt and kill AFSCME!!!

Posted by: Kilvinsky

VIVA LA REVOLUCION! COLLEGE POLICIA LIBRE!

Woody, I like your style. In the immortal words of Tim Allen, "Never Give up, Never surrender!"

I hope ass-f-mee does sink. It's done nothing for law enforcement.

Posted by: rg1283

Be happy you don't work in RI (unless you work for Brown University), only supervisors carry.........mace at RI College. Everyone else Cuffs and a radio. So be happy you have what you have. RI Law allows all people who have police powers to be armed, so nothing is holding the RI schools from arming, except $ and lack of common sense.

Posted by: Kilvinsky

Quote:

Originally Posted by rg1283

Be happy you don't work in RI (unless you work for Brown University), only supervisors carry.........mace at RI College. Everyone else Cuffs and a radio. So be happy you have what you have. RI Law allows all people who have police powers to be armed, so nothing is holding the RI schools from arming, except $ and lack of common sense.

The lack of common sense is all too common. I found that RI has a law similar to the one Mass. has for private schools. I'm very much surprised that with the exception of Brown, NONE of the private schools have taken advantage of it.

I did read that the law says that the college police will be unarmed unless authorized to carry by the board of trustees, or words to that effect. Funny how it's spelled out that they remain unarmed UNLESS it's ok'd by a higher authority. Sad how those in charge are, once again, proven to be out of the loop when it comes to the real world.

Posted by: kwflatbed

Arming police on campus

Brandeis votes OK; others debate issue

Lieutenant Pam Curtis, with Framingham State College's campus police force, coordinating security in preparation for Governor Deval Patrick's arrival for a ceremony last year. (Bill Polo/Globe Staff/FILE 2007)

By Lisa Kocian

Globe Staff / May 1, 2008

Amid concerns that shooting rampages like those at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University could happen anywhere, some area colleges are debating whether to arm their campus police officers.At Brandeis University in Waltham, the debate is over. Campus police will soon start carrying guns, probably in June, according to Dennis Nealon, a Brandeis spokesman. The university had talked about it periodically over the past two decades. One of the reasons for the change this time, Nealon said, is the realization that Waltham police don't know the Brandeis campus as well as the officers who patrol it daily.
"Right after the Virginia Tech tragedy, the issue of whether safety officers on campus should carry firearms arose anew," he said. "It's an issue that's been periodically visited over probably 15 or 20 years perhaps. Certainly the Virginia Tech tragedy accelerated the process."
This month, Framingham State College's board of trustees could vote to arm its officers, after both the college president and the campus chief of police voiced support for the move. Several other area colleges, including Babson College and Dean College, are discussing the issue.
Ken Corkran, director of public safety and risk management at Dean College, said the Franklin Police Department is only three to four minutes away, but administrators are still looking at perhaps arming police on campus.
"We do recognize there will be instances where we need an immediate response, and that's what we're evaluating at this point," he said.
At Framingham State, a nonbinding referendum on April 16 found a fairly even split among its students. The vote was 263 in favor of arming campus police and 246 against.
Only one student gets a vote that counts: Jake Oliveira, the student member of Framingham State's 11-member board of trustees, which is scheduled to vote on the arming proposal on May 15.
Oliveira said he is "leaning against" supporting guns for campus police officers, but won't decide until the formal vote.
"There is a clear distinction if a police officer is breaking up a party and doesn't have a firearm and a police officer that does have a firearm," said Oliveira.
The police will get respect either way, he said, but the presence of guns "tenses things up for a lot of people."
He also noted that campus police at both Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois were armed.
Last year, a student killed 32 people before shooting himself at Virginia Tech. Earlier this year, a gunman killed six people, including himself, at Northern Illinois University.
Sarah Charland, president of student government at Framingham State, said she is in favor of arming police.
"I just think because we live in scary times, and with all the past campus violence that's gone on in the last two years, we should try to protect ourselves as much as we can," she said.
The Framingham State College Professional Association, which represents about 170 faculty members as well as several library employees, voted unanimously against arming campus police."They didn't feel that the administration had necessarily made a strong enough case for arming the police," said John Ambacher, the union's outgoing president. "We just felt it needed more justification."
Brad Medeiros, Framingham State's chief of police, proposed arming his force because campus tragedies have proven that every second counts, he said.
"You have to be able to engage these individuals immediately and neutralize the threat," he said. "The more time they have without opposition, without dealing with a law enforcement response, the more time they have to cause injury or death."
His officers are already highly trained, said Medeiros, but will get more specialized firearms training if the proposal passes. They attend the Special State Police Academy and, like all other law enforcement officers, must submit to a background investigation, psychological assessment, and oral interviews before being hired.
"College policing has come a long way from years ago," said Medeiros. "They are regular police officers you'd see in your town, doing the exact same job."
If the trustees vote to arm campus police, training this summer would include 40 hours of basic handgun training and 36 hours of what is called active shooter training, which addresses dealing with a gunman loose on campus, he said.
"Come September, it would be business as usual, and nobody is going to notice the difference in the style of policing we use," said Medeiros.
Parents, students, faculty - everybody seems to be debating these days whether campus police should be armed, according to Ron Guilmette, vice president of the Massachusetts Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, which has members from 69 campuses, big and small, private and public, around the state.
The shootings at Northern Illinois and Virginia Tech were watershed moments for anyone looking at the issue, he said.
"That brought the whole issue to the table," said Guilmette. "There's a lot of conversation."
Of his group's member campuses, 31 have armed police forces and 38 are unarmed.
"It can happen on any campus, that's the lesson learned," he said.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/art...ice_on_campus/

Posted by: Delta784

If the notoriously liberal Brandeisans voted to arm their campus police, then every other campus PD should be armed by default.

Posted by: Kilvinsky

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta784

If the notoriously liberal Brandeisans voted to arm their campus police, then every other campus PD should be armed by default.

Agreed. Even Hampshire.........no wait, they have to come around to clear thinking first and that could take some time. Maybe after a few bags of Fritos and a Twinkie or three.

But man, are you ever on the $$$$

Posted by: sweeper20

Daily News Tribune:
WALTHAM —
Starting June 2, Brandeis University police officers will be armed, said Ed Callahan, the school's public safety director.
The weapon of choice: a Glock 40-caliber automatic handgun, the same firearm used by Waltham Police and Bentley College police, Callahan said.
University officials and members of the university's Firearms Policy Advisory Committee compiled a final report on the idea last week. The document was posted on the university's Web site earlier this week.
The report offers an extensive look at the factors that led to the decision.
"I was very impressed by the forwardness of the process we went through as a community and the level of interest and engagement from students and faculty and staff who participated," said Lorna Miles, Brandeis spokesman.
Mayor Jeannette McCarthy said she hopes Brandeis University officers foster solid communications with their city counterparts.
"I'd like to make sure they make a good communication with the Waltham Police Department and that their training was done (properly)," McCarthy said. "The issue of proper training between the law enforcement departments (is my main concern)."
Campus police are now going through a series of physical and psychological tests using the same guidelines local and state police use in their training.
A use of force policy was also compiled by the Firearms Police Advisory Committee, outlining among other things, specific scenarios in which campus police may use their weapons. The policy is confidential according the recent report. The policy does however state deadly force can be employed only when an officer reasonably believes that the action is in defense of human life.
The total cost to train and arm Brandeis University Police is less than $100,000, according to the report. It will not affect tuition, according to the report.
In September 2007, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Peter French with a group of faculty, students and staff members, submitted a report to Brandeis president Jehuda Reinharz, recommending they begin arming police.
The recommendation included a university study of safety and security systems and procedures. Campus officials say the recommendation was partially a reaction to the Virginia Tech Massacre, in which 32 students and faculty were gunned down on April 16, 2007.
Following the massacre, Brandeis installed outdoor sirens and developed an emergency notification system.
Reinharz accepted the recommendation and sent an e-mail to the campus community announcing they move forward with the arming later that month.
University officials later decided to re-examine the question of arming campus police and the Firearms Safety Advisory Committee was formed.
"We heard from experts and from people that trained the campus police and did diversity training," said Matt Rogers, a committee member and student."We're going to be making recommendations to the university president in certain areas to make sure students feel safe."
The committee met three times this year to discuss concerns surrounding the issue.

Posted by: Kilvinsky

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweeper20

Daily News Tribune:
WALTHAM —
Starting June 2, Brandeis University police officers will be armed, said Ed Callahan, the school's public safety director.
Reinharz accepted the recommendation and sent an e-mail to the campus community announcing they move forward with the arming later that month. That's damn fast work. Framingham Trustees, READ THIS!!!!
University officials later decided to re-examine the question of arming campus police and the Firearms Safety Advisory Committee was formed. It WAS damn fast work. Framingham Trustees, DON'T READ THIS, you already did this.
"We heard from experts and from people that trained the campus police and did diversity training," said Matt Rogers, a committee member and student."We're going to be making recommendations to the university president in certain areas to make sure students feel safe."
The committee met three times this year to discuss concerns surrounding the issue.

A fair amount of gobbldy-gook, but it's being done, and that's all that matters.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweeper20

The total cost to train and arm Brandeis University Police is less than $100,000, according to the report. It will not affect tuition, according to the report.

With an endowment of almost $600 million, I would hope not.

Posted by: 5-0

Quote:

The weapon of choice: a Glock 40-caliber automatic handgun, the same firearm used by Waltham Police and Bentley College police, Callahan said.

It's automatic baby! No need for an officer to shoot it. God, I love how media loves to over-dramatize weapons. I remember that 7 News was calling a round found in my sons school a ' .22 MAGNUM SHELL ' Oh... my... God. Call Dirty Harry.

Posted by: Kilvinsky

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5-0

I haven't considered Channel 7's glitzy show to be a REAL news program for years. It's the Enquirer of the Airwaves. All show, now substance.

Ever notice that when the cops shoot someone, the cops shot someone. When someone ELSE shoots someone, they 'alledgedly' shot someone.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kilvinsky

Ever notice that when the cops shoot someone, the cops shot someone. When someone ELSE shoots someone, they 'alledgedly' shot someone.

No no no.....we don't "shoot "suspects, we "gun down" them.

Posted by: Inspector71

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta784

No no no.....we don't "shoot "suspects, we "gun down" them.

That's whats going to happen soon at all the colleges...
the newly armed P.D.'s will start "gunning down" students when they "overeact" to loud dorm parties and bookstore line disturbances!

Posted by: Kilvinsky

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inspector71

That's whats going to happen soon at all the colleges...
the newly armed P.D.'s will start "gunning down" students when they "overeact" to loud dorm parties and bookstore line disturbances!

"I said, PUT THAT CIGARETTE OUT PUNK, THIS IS A NO SMOKING AREA!!!!"

blam blam blam

"Now to find someone who thinks parking in the Dean's spot is funny."

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