The Collegian Wednesday, September 20, 1989
Behrend police officers say they
should be allowed to carry weapons
(continued from page 1)
that given the nature of police
work, weapons come with the
territory
"If you're going to ask people
to do police functions, shouldn't
you give them the tools to do
so?" said Hoffman.
The question of arming
campus police has been brought
before the judiciaries of several
states recently. Across the nation,
college campuses are being held
both civilly and criminally liable
if the safety of those on campus,
including their police forces, is
jepordized.
Recently, Western
Washington University was fined
$2,550 by the state's Department
of Labor when it was determined
that having unarmed police
officers created a harmful working
environment.
Pro-gun advocates insist that
armed police officers are a
deterent to crime. Hoffman cites
the history of University Park.
Presently, University Park police
carry guns; however, ten years
ago they were unarmed.
According to Hoffman, there were
a number of assaults comitted
against the unarmed police
officers. Then "when they got
armed it was a completely
different ballgame. They (the
potential perpatrators of crime)
were not as confrontational.
Fewer people made threats. It
seemed to improve the sense of
safety."
The most commonly
committed crimes on college
campuses arc vandalism and
fights. These arc frequently
committed under the influence of
alcohol, according to Hoffman.
"Alcohol definitely in one
way or another tends to manifest
itself in many forms of crime."
Physical assaults, including rape,
are the most serious. "Assaults,
while few in number, just by the
nature of them are so severe that
we consider them very serious.
Crimes against a person get no
break," said Hoffman.
A third category of crimes
common to college campuses arc
those committed by outsiders.
People unrelated to the campus
are considered potentially much
more dangerous than people with
connections to the college. They
have no vested interest, are
usually on campus for a short
time and therefore show little or
no concern for the consequences
of their actions.
"Based on the ten years
experience I've had at University
Park and a few things I have seen
here, outsiders are a chronic
problem," said Hoffman.
The many social events held
at Behrend and the natural beauty
of the gorge both attract a
number of outsiders to campus.
At a recent dance, there were over
100 non-affiliated individuals
present including members of
two gangs.
Officers say the "it can't
happen here" syndrome is
prevalent among many students.
"There is no sign out there at the
gate that says 'This is Behrend
Campus. Things don't happen
here — said officer Chip Sanders.
In his experience here at Behrend,
Sanders said he has dealt with
disgruntled boyfriends of female
students who were armed and has
chased armed burglars through the
gorge. "Bchrend goes into the
street, the street can come on to
Behrend," said Sanders. Officers
argue that giving them weapons
gives them a better chance of
survival should a life-threatening
situation occur.
Officers at Edinboro
University carry firearms,
according to David Zarner, head
of Edinboro Campus Police.
Find out more.
Contact Captain Jim McCarthy in the basement of the Glennhill Farmhouse, 898-6218
"The reason we are armed is not
to control students. It is to
protect," said Zaner. Edinboro has
"There is no sign
out there at the gate
that says 'This is
Behrend campus.
Things don't happen
here."
Officer Chip
Sanders
been armed since 1974 anti
reportedly made the change with
little opposition from the student
population.
Edinboro campus police have
a mutual aid agreement with
Edinboro municipal police
wherein they provide backup for
one another, acting as two
separate but equal police forces.
According to Zarner, there
have been many physical assaults
with weapons at Edinboro, but in
the 15 years they have been
armed, no shots have been fired.
Slippery Rock is also armed and
reports no shootings. Closer to
Page
home, Gannon and Mercyhur.
both have unarmed security force
and depend on City of Eri
Police should a violent situatio
arise. The Penn State campus
Altoona is involved in th
process of arming and report
there is little opposition froi
students.
Here at Behrend,
administration is in an evaluatic
period. "Whether or not we lie§
to be armed, I think,
something that needs to
assesed," said Director (
Operations, John Ream.