The Salem News Online Edition
Thursday, June 05, 2003
Salem State cops to get guns
By TOM DALTON
Staff writer
SALEM -- Concerned about the rising tide of violence in America, and convinced that college campuses are no longer a safe haven, the board of trustees of Salem State College voted last night to arm campus police.
By a 6-4 vote, the trustees supported the compromise recommended by Salem State President Nancy Harrington, who proposed putting guns in the hands of the nine-member command staff and then reviewing the decision next spring.
After the one-year trial, the board will consider whether to arm the entire 28-member force.
"It was a tough decision for me to make, but, at this point, I believe it is necessary," Harrington said of her recommendation, which clearly carried weight with the board.
How soon campus police begin carrying weapons is not clear. When asked last night, Salem State Police Chief Brian Pray said he first has to find the money to buy the guns.
The Salem State Police have not carried firearms since 1986, the year Pray arrived on campus. Pray took the weapons away, in part, because he felt officers weren't properly trained.
Over the past year, Pray and members of his command staff, which includes patrol supervisors and the head of detectives, have campaigned to get the weapons back. Officers now receive extensive training, Pray said.
The police held a dozen campus meetings, bringing with them a display board of guns, knives and other weapons confiscated on campus. They displayed the weapons last night during the trustees' meeting at Alumni House on South Campus.
"We hope this will help you understand why we are unable to properly serve and protect," Pray said at the start of the department's presentation.
Pray and his officers cited examples where, when confronted with a weapon or the threat of a weapon, they have had to retreat or call in city police. That policy, they said, can put both campus police and students in jeopardy.
"Basically, all we do at this point is pray a situation doesn't worsen," said Sgt. Dean Bruno.
During 2002, Salem State Police were involved in 30 incidents with weapons, which resulted in 13 arrests, they said.
Several board members had reservations about giving guns to police. Some felt they needed more time to study the issue, while others wanted to arm the whole department, or were concerned that not everyone on campus liked the idea.
Sarah Newcomb, the student trustee, said students weren't necessarily opposed, but that some were concerned about which officers would have guns.
The campus meetings on the issue "did bring to light a long-standing tension between the student body and some of the personnel on the police force," she said.
Trustee Matthew LeBretton, a Salem State graduate, cited another group that has its concerns. "There does seem to be a level of unease among some faculty," he said.
Harrington said she received between 100 and 150 e-mails and comments from students, faculty and staff as a result of the public information meetings. She said the campus was split "50-50."
Of those opposed, she said about half strongly objected, and the others had concerns about "who is armed." The other half of the campus was in favor of giving police guns, she said.
The majority of the board backed Harrington's proposal to start gradually by arming only the chief's command staff. They rejected calls for a delay.
"On my watch, I would rather err on the side of caution by opening the door partly rather than keeping it closed," said Trustee James Hobin Jr.
The college president, a longtime gun opponent, said she changed her mind because of all that has happened over the past few years.
"Just watching the increase in violence in society and events the last couple of years -- the World Trade Center and terrorism and the violence at schools and colleges across the nation -- I just realized times have changed," Harrington said.
Thursday, June 05, 2003
Salem State cops to get guns
By TOM DALTON
Staff writer
SALEM -- Concerned about the rising tide of violence in America, and convinced that college campuses are no longer a safe haven, the board of trustees of Salem State College voted last night to arm campus police.
By a 6-4 vote, the trustees supported the compromise recommended by Salem State President Nancy Harrington, who proposed putting guns in the hands of the nine-member command staff and then reviewing the decision next spring.
After the one-year trial, the board will consider whether to arm the entire 28-member force.
"It was a tough decision for me to make, but, at this point, I believe it is necessary," Harrington said of her recommendation, which clearly carried weight with the board.
How soon campus police begin carrying weapons is not clear. When asked last night, Salem State Police Chief Brian Pray said he first has to find the money to buy the guns.
The Salem State Police have not carried firearms since 1986, the year Pray arrived on campus. Pray took the weapons away, in part, because he felt officers weren't properly trained.
Over the past year, Pray and members of his command staff, which includes patrol supervisors and the head of detectives, have campaigned to get the weapons back. Officers now receive extensive training, Pray said.
The police held a dozen campus meetings, bringing with them a display board of guns, knives and other weapons confiscated on campus. They displayed the weapons last night during the trustees' meeting at Alumni House on South Campus.
"We hope this will help you understand why we are unable to properly serve and protect," Pray said at the start of the department's presentation.
Pray and his officers cited examples where, when confronted with a weapon or the threat of a weapon, they have had to retreat or call in city police. That policy, they said, can put both campus police and students in jeopardy.
"Basically, all we do at this point is pray a situation doesn't worsen," said Sgt. Dean Bruno.
During 2002, Salem State Police were involved in 30 incidents with weapons, which resulted in 13 arrests, they said.
Several board members had reservations about giving guns to police. Some felt they needed more time to study the issue, while others wanted to arm the whole department, or were concerned that not everyone on campus liked the idea.
Sarah Newcomb, the student trustee, said students weren't necessarily opposed, but that some were concerned about which officers would have guns.
The campus meetings on the issue "did bring to light a long-standing tension between the student body and some of the personnel on the police force," she said.
Trustee Matthew LeBretton, a Salem State graduate, cited another group that has its concerns. "There does seem to be a level of unease among some faculty," he said.
Harrington said she received between 100 and 150 e-mails and comments from students, faculty and staff as a result of the public information meetings. She said the campus was split "50-50."
Of those opposed, she said about half strongly objected, and the others had concerns about "who is armed." The other half of the campus was in favor of giving police guns, she said.
The majority of the board backed Harrington's proposal to start gradually by arming only the chief's command staff. They rejected calls for a delay.
"On my watch, I would rather err on the side of caution by opening the door partly rather than keeping it closed," said Trustee James Hobin Jr.
The college president, a longtime gun opponent, said she changed her mind because of all that has happened over the past few years.
"Just watching the increase in violence in society and events the last couple of years -- the World Trade Center and terrorism and the violence at schools and colleges across the nation -- I just realized times have changed," Harrington said.
. Sends message that command staff are better than the officers, can be trusted and are valued more than patrol staff :shock: . We (in Waltham) are still being told wait, wait, wait. A year ago, it was Sept 2003, now it's Jan 2004. Some officers don't think the patrolmen/women will ever be carrying full-time.
