MANCHESTER, Conn. — The president of Manchester Community College on Thursday asked legislators to consider arming campus police. The testimony came a day after the college was in lockdown after a student contacted authorities to report that another student had a gun in his waistband.
Lawmakers held a hearing as part of Connecticut’s effort to improve school security. During the hearing, MCC President Gena Glickman noted that during the incident, MCC police were treated like civilians, despite being more familiar with the campus layout and having the same certification as municipal police officers, the Courant.com.
Campus police at the University of Connecticut and the state’s four regional universities are allowed to carry arms. However, 10 of the 12 community colleges in the area do not have armed police officers on campus.
The police chiefs from the University of Connecticut and Central Connecticut State University also made statements that supported arming police officers on campus during the hearing. Legislators are contemplating crafting bills after receiving the testimonies.
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