MCLA Police On Pace To Begin Carrying Firearms By January
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According to Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Director of Public Safety Joseph Charon, seven officers are nearing completion of firearm training and will start patroling before the new year.
The college's Board of Trustees approved arming campus police last February and since then the department has created policies and procedures, put all officers through suitability screening and begun training with the state Municipal Police Training Council, according to Charon.
"We're taking a slow, deliberate, professional approach," Charon said on Friday, adding that the trustees said the implementation must be completed between August 2012 and January 2013.
After qualifying to carry the weapons Charon said his officers will train four times a year but until then the department has been looking to go "above and beyond" the minimal requirements to qualify.
The weapons have been purchased and are being used for the training. Since the officers are not yet qualified to carry them, the weapons are stored in a "safe and secure environment." Charon said the officers do not even have access to the weapons.
While Charon said he did not have a specific cost for the weapon purchases, he said it was in line with what was anticipated. In February, the school was estimating $12,521 for the equipment purchased, which made up about half of the total implementation cost of $24,635. After implementation the school will be paying $6,026 a year for training.
Arming campus police was controversial with the majority of students, faculty and neighbors against the decision. The argument against firearms was that they were unneeded because violent crimes are not on the rise, accidental discharge and the creation of unsafe and hostile feelings among the campus community.
Charon, backed by the city's Police Department, argued for the weapons because of the "duty to act." The officers are sworn to act if they see a crime committed anywhere and with the campus expanding more into the city, the officers are at more of a risk. But the officers will not be patroling in the city and will continue to only focus on campus property.
Additionally, proponents argued that violent crimes and school shootings are increasing nationally.
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