Reactions to Virginia Tech
The State University system here in New York has a large number of institutions, two and four year. The campus police have undergone a lot of changes in the last few years, better training, a change making them “peace officers” and arming them. Among four year schools, SUNY-Geneseo was the only one to not allow its officers to carry a gun.
Geneseo sits in a rural area, but is considered one of the gems of the SUNY system. About twenty years ago, amidst falling enrollments, the school elected to take a different tack from its sister schools and raise admission standards. Since then, it has not had a problem and students from all over compete to get admitted.
The school’s president, this week, has recinded the “no carry” policy.
Democrat & Chronicle
In a memo Friday, President Christopher Dahl announced the reversal of a controversial college policy and said that the change — which allows its campus police officers to carry sidearms at all times while on duty — takes effect immediately.
“The context in which colleges are operating … has changed,” Dahl said. “The Virginia Tech situation does make a difference.”
Geneseo, in Livingston County, had been the only four-year state university to not let its officers be armed at all times.
James McCartney, president of the New York State University Police Union Local 1792, which represents the state’s approximately 500 campus officers, said his organization had been working with Geneseo on the issue for three years.
“It is a shame that it took the loss of lives at Virginia Tech to finally realize a police officer should be armed,” he said in an e-mail. “I am glad my members will finally be able to use all the tools necessary to perform the job to the fullest. I know (their) families will be able to sleep a little better, knowing they have the tools necessary to save the lives of a campus community member or even (their) own.”
McCartney said he also hoped the state Legislature would centralize state university police departments.
I would note that no police officer, campus or public, used their weapon at Virginia Tech.
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