Inside Iowa State

Aug 1, 2007

GEOFFROY SEEKS COMMENTS ON PROPOSAL TO ARM UNIVERSITY POLICE

ISU President Gregory Geoffroy is seeking comments on a recommendation that police officers at the three Board of Regents universities be authorized to carry firearms as standard equipment. The recommendation came from the vice presidents and directors of public safety at Iowa State, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa and was submitted to the presidents of the three universities.

Over the next few weeks, Geoffroy will receive input from the campus community and decide whether to concur with the recommendation to arm university police. He will pass his decision on to the Board of Regents, State of Iowa.

After receiving recommendations from the three university presidents, the Board of Regents, in turn, will submit its recommendation to Gov. Chet Culver and state lawmakers. The Legislature asked the regents for a detailed study of campus safety and security measures, including a review of the issue of arming campus police, by Oct. 15.

COMMENTS DUE SEPT. 11

Geoffroy has asked the Faculty Senate, Professional and Scientific Council and Government of the Student Body to review and respond to the recommendation to authorize university police officers to carry firearms as standard equipment. Other members of the university community also are invited to respond by sending comments to president@iastate.edu by Sept. 11.

The recommendation and accompanying report (see PDF file) calls for authorizing police officers on the state university campuses to carry firearms and stipulates that police must meet stringent training and firearms recertification requirements.

In making the recommendation, the Iowa State, Iowa and UNI vice presidents and public safety officers point out that:

• The state universities' campuses are larger than many Iowa communities and experience all of the problems that exist in society at large.
• Police who are armed can respond more rapidly to a threat.
• Law enforcement officers at the three regent universities meet the same standards and receive the same training and certification as all other Iowa law officers.
• Training and educational levels of regents police equal or surpass many municipal and county counterparts in law enforcement.
• Local, state and national law enforcement agencies support arming police.
• All comparable universities or colleges in the United States authorize their certified police officers to carry firearms as standard equipment.

President Geoffroy is seeking comments from Faculty Senate, Professional and Scientific Council, the Government of the Student Body and other members of the university community regarding the recommendation that police officers at the three Board of Regents universities be authorized to carry firearms as standard equipment.

Send comments to president@iastate.edu.