WALTHAM, Mass. – Security officers at Brandeis University will be armed by June, according to the university’s spokesman. Other colleges in the area are still debating whether or not arming officers is the best policy.
According to Dennis Nealon, spokesman for Brandeis, the university discussed the issue for nearly 20 years; however, the recent decision resulted because state police officers were not as familiar with the campus as campus security officers are.
Other colleges are still unsure. For Framingham State College, the board of trustees is looking to vote on whether or not to arm officers this month. Already, the Framingham State College Professional Association, which is made up of nearly 170 faculty and library employees, voted unanimously against arming campus police.
If the trustees approve arming officers, training will commence in the summer and would include 40 hours of basic handgun training and 36 hours of active shooter training.
Neighboring schools Dean College and Babson College are also discussing the issue.
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