 "Photo: Mike Nahass")
William Paterson University police officers now have a tool at their finger tips: Glock 9mm guns. They were granted permission to carry them at all times on a temporary basis in October after a shooting following the Homecoming Dance.
At open forums last week, members of the campus community were invited to ask questions and voice their opinions on this topic. Audience members did not have to identify themselves.
One student said having police carry guns made her worry about them abusing power. To that, another student commented: "This [campus] is your community," adding that she thought guns would help campus police with their jobs.
Attendees were told that campus police are all police academy graduates, but several have resigned because of low pay or because they are unable to carry firearms.
Most of New Jersey's colleges and universities have state-certified campus police who carry firearms. Some schools, including Ramapo College and New Jersey City University, have security departments and are serviced by police in the town/city of their locations.
Information from the forums will be among data presented to the WPU Board of Trustees for an open meeting on March 5 in College Hall. Those who wish to express their views are asked to do by e-mailing SealR@wpunj.edu or Gradsoc@wpunj.edu. All comments will be kept anonymous.
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