Community Colleges: To Arm or Unarmed Security Details

October 1, 2015 and Umpqua Community College will forever be added to the dates and institutions in our hearts that have experienced this rampage of gun violence that continues to plague higher education.  Whether you are new to the field or seasoned, the last eight years have included learning more about implementing threat assessment teams, bystander education programs, and trainings to prepare for indiscriminate shootings. 

While, personally, I think we need to do more upon educating our students to become activists and responsible citizens to help address this type of violence that is a different blog post for a different day. 

In the new book College in the Crosshairs: An Administrative Perspective on Prevention of Gun Violence, which was just released, I helped co-authored a chapter from a community college perspective in preparing for active shooter scenarios.  This latest attack at Umpqua brings to national light many of the themes discussed in that chapter.  For instance, a major consideration two-year colleges must ask is whether to have an armed or unarmed security detail.

This may seem at first like a relatively simple decision, and after these shootings the media quickly criticizes campuses for having unarmed security.  However, it is a very complex issue.  There are numerous factors that must be considered when determining a college’s security force.  Community colleges are as widely diverse as the students they serve, which make it inherently difficult to provide a one-size fits all answer to this question. 

Factors that influence a community college’s decision to arm or have unarmed security:

• In some states, the decision may not rest with the Board of Trustees of the community college, but rather the state legislators. 
• Community colleges must consider the norms of the community they are situated in and directly serve.  For example, established partnership agreements with local police and local government need to be a consideration.
• Aside from location, the design of the campus will influence this decision.  For example, single building campuses, multi-campus networks, and campuses in satellite locations, such as malls, all have different security needs.
• Also the community college campus culture and stance of leadership and the student body regarding having armed or unarmed police or security certainly shape this decision. 

If a campus does not have armed police or security it does not mean they are at a disadvantage necessarily.  Strong collaborations with community police, practiced drills, and preparing local law enforcement with building floor plans and keys can provide a high level of safety preparedness.  In the chapter, co-author Lance Jones shared how Casper College’s relationship with local police helped swiftly address the bow attack that happened on their campus in 2012.    

So, regardless of having armed or unarmed security, it is essential for campus leadership to review protocols and ensure their campus emergency plans for responding to gun violence are at the ready. 

Dr. Scott Peska currently serves Waubonsee Community College as Dean for Students and Northern Illinois University as an adjunct faculty member in their Counseling, Adult and Higher Education department.