Arming University Police Officers: Good or Bad Idea?

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Permalink Reply by John Antonelli on December 1, 2008 at 3:30pm

Good idea. The Northeastern university Police has been armed since 1980 and has been instrumental in stopping several crimes Now GW may have to increase its salary, hiring standards and training, but that is not a bad thing.

Permalink Reply by John G. Boyle on December 1, 2008 at 5:03pm

Do they receive the same training and have the same requirements as city police, or are they more like high-end security guards? (no offense is meant - I really don't know)

Permalink Reply by Tara on December 1, 2008 at 5:27pm

I think the level of training differs from university to university. At GW, they're still in the preliminary stages of considering this issue, so I don't know if they've gotten that far yet in their assessment.

I do know that at the University of Maryland, campus police officers carry firearms and have an agreement with the Prince George's County Police to provide policing to areas near the university if necessary.

Permalink Reply by John Antonelli on December 1, 2008 at 5:33pm

Northeastern had to attend a full police academy. I understand UMD does that also GMU same.
Tara said:

I think the level of training differs from university to university. At GW, they're still in the preliminary stages of considering this issue, so I don't know if they've gotten that far yet in their assessment.

I do know that at the University of Maryland, campus police officers carry firearms and have an agreement with the Prince George's County Police to provide policing to areas near the university if necessary.

Permalink Reply by Tara on December 1, 2008 at 5:35pm

Thanks, John! :)

Permalink Reply by wonkguy on December 4, 2008 at 3:38pm

Well, if private armies are good enough for Iraq why not, what could possibly go wrong?

Permalink Reply by Michael Lopez on March 20, 2009 at 9:17am

This seems to be a ridiculous question. If you are going to give guns to anyone, it should be to those who are employed as sworn police officers. There is no logical reason to fear police with guns.

Permalink Reply by Karl on March 20, 2009 at 2:22pm

Oh really, Michael?
Tell that to Amadou Diallo.
Tell that to any law abiding, black kid in PG county.

Permalink Reply by John Antonelli on March 20, 2009 at 2:32pm

Daillo was a righteous shoot. IF you are talking about the guy in tyeh bathroom that wasa bad cop and he sits in prison today as he should.

As for the black kids in PG, if you have incidents of black kids being abused by rogue police acting illegally, Mr. Ivy would love to hear about it. That said if you live in a crime infested neighborhood, don't be surprised if there are more police there doing the deed. I note that crime disproportion ally affects the poor.

Permalink Reply by Karl on March 20, 2009 at 3:00pm

No. Amadou Diallo was an unarmed, law abiding citizen who was shot in the hallway to his apartment. Cops fired 41 bullets at him. 19 hit and killed him. Not exactly a righteous shot. More like an un-prosecuted, oops.

John Antonelli said:

Daillo was a righteous shoot. IF you are talking about the guy in tyeh bathroom that wasa bad cop and he sits in prison today as he should.

As for the black kids in PG, if you have incidents of black kids being abused by rogue police acting illegally, Mr. Ivy would love to hear about it. That said if you live in a crime infested neighborhood, don't be surprised if there are more police there doing the deed. I note that crime disproportion ally affects the poor.

Permalink Reply by John Antonelli on March 20, 2009 at 3:01pm

I remember him, he was ordered to stop refused and reached in his coat. That was a righteous shoot.
Karl said:

No. Amadou Diallo was an unarmed, law abiding citizen who was shot in the hallway to his apartment. Cops fired 41 bullets at him. 19 hit and killed him. Not exactly a righteous shot. More like an un-prosecuted, oops.

John Antonelli said:

Daillo was a righteous shoot. IF you are talking about the guy in tyeh bathroom that wasa bad cop and he sits in prison today as he should.

As for the black kids in PG, if you have incidents of black kids being abused by rogue police acting illegally, Mr. Ivy would love to hear about it. That said if you live in a crime infested neighborhood, don't be surprised if there are more police there doing the deed. I note that crime disproportion ally affects the poor.

Permalink Reply by Darron on March 25, 2009 at 10:14pm

While I don't agree with absolute gun bans (who needs an AK-47 anyhow), let's get it right: The Crack Cocaine epidemic made DC the Murder Capital of the World back in the early nineties. If you weren't involved in the crack trade, then you weren't in need of a gun. If you were, then you needed, and probably had, an AK-47. A lot of the murders were essentially assassination-style killings with multiple people bound and gagged and found to be usually associated with the drug trade. Sorry for the gory details, but I think it should be clear that most of use really weren't in much danger because we weren't involved.

But, I don't think we are nearly the Murder Capital of the World as you suggest. So, you can come outside now.

Erin Sarah Cannan said:

DC is a perfect example of how "gun control" can make you the murder capital of the world and make 75% of this city off limits after dark.
GWU and AU are thus in a city that is not only a national embarrassment, but a very violent and criminal one also. Having unarmed police in such an environment is basically being for rape and murder, because the rapists and murderers are happy if they don't have to deal with armed cops. This SHOULD be a no brainer, but it's DC after all. Politics comes before human life and protecting innocent people every day.