OH After Effect of VA Shootings
A police union wants some big changes to increase security on a Central Ohio campus. The union wants 16 fully trained police officers at Columbus State to be able to carry guns; some feel officers can't serve and protect adequately without them.
Just one day after a lone gunman killed 32-people and himself at Virginia Tech, a local police union wants to increase security at Columbus State Community College.
Jim Gilbert is the president of the Fraternal Order of Police. He told NewCenter the 16 fully trained police officers who patrol Columbus State are essentially "useless" since none of them are allowed to carry guns.
"For them to not allow police officers on this campus to not be armed is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of. You cant provide a safe environment if your not willing to give the weapons needed to those officers," Gilbert stated
Right now, the college only allows the officers to carry mace, a batton and handcuffs. It's a big concern for a 20-thousand student urban campus.
Amy Barends, an employee in the admissions department at Columbus State said, "It just makes sense to give them the tools to do their jobs. It's sort of like sending a firefighter into a building with out a hose. It doesn't make sense."
As for students, we had a hard time finding anyone who opposes the Police Unions request.
"Here, if something happened, the guards don't have any way to protect us to take down an intruder or anything like that," says student Chris Betts.
Jim Gilbert, and fellow police officers are trying desperately to combat the violence on college campuses, but it is in fact increasing.
Last Updated: Wednesday, April 18 2007, 01:24 PM
A police union wants some big changes to increase security on a Central Ohio campus. The union wants 16 fully trained police officers at Columbus State to be able to carry guns; some feel officers can't serve and protect adequately without them.
Just one day after a lone gunman killed 32-people and himself at Virginia Tech, a local police union wants to increase security at Columbus State Community College.
Jim Gilbert is the president of the Fraternal Order of Police. He told NewCenter the 16 fully trained police officers who patrol Columbus State are essentially "useless" since none of them are allowed to carry guns.
"For them to not allow police officers on this campus to not be armed is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of. You cant provide a safe environment if your not willing to give the weapons needed to those officers," Gilbert stated
Right now, the college only allows the officers to carry mace, a batton and handcuffs. It's a big concern for a 20-thousand student urban campus.
Amy Barends, an employee in the admissions department at Columbus State said, "It just makes sense to give them the tools to do their jobs. It's sort of like sending a firefighter into a building with out a hose. It doesn't make sense."
As for students, we had a hard time finding anyone who opposes the Police Unions request.
"Here, if something happened, the guards don't have any way to protect us to take down an intruder or anything like that," says student Chris Betts.
Jim Gilbert, and fellow police officers are trying desperately to combat the violence on college campuses, but it is in fact increasing.
Last Updated: Wednesday, April 18 2007, 01:24 PM
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