Task force unanimously recommends arming the campus police
Michael Haidar
Posted on: 7/30/09 Section: News
A campus-wide task force has unanimously recommended that campus police be equipped with firearms, officials said.
According to Lt. Brad Young of the PCC Police Department, who served as an advisor to the task force, the "Arming the Police" Task Force was persuaded by the evidence.
The task force, originally established by then Vice President of Administrative Services Kindred Murillo, who served in that position from August 2007 to August 2008, was designed to examine the pros and cons of arming the campus police.
"The firearm problem is a big issue," said Young, a long-time advocate for arming the campus police.
The report that the task force drafted was sent to PCC President Paulette Perfumo in mid-July, according to task force member Mark Zacovic, interim vice president of administrative services.
"[We conducted] deep research into evidence and cases," said Zacovic, about drafting the 64-page report that took 14 months to complete.
"[There is] little to no evidence of there being less safety with armed police," Zacovic said.
Originally the task force was divided on whether to arm the police, Young said. Each side, pro and con, went and researched the issue, looking for arguments that would make their case.
According to Zacovic, the task force came back with two reports, one pro and one con.
"One group had done a better job at making the argument," Zacovic said. "It was the pro side. But we agreed to merge the two documents into one, simply presenting the facts."
Once the report was in its final draft, two of the student members of the task force came to a meeting, complaining that the report was one-sided, according to Zacovic.
"They asked for more time to research into the con side," Zacovic said. "The student voice is important, so we said sure.
"They came back a couple weeks later and said, 'we couldn't find anything on the con side.'"
Zacovic then said that the students agreed the report should stand as it was, with all members of the task force unanimously recommending arming the police.
The matter is expected to be addressed at the next board meeting.
Zacovic speculated the issue had been postponed because the board had more important issues at hand, such as the budget crisis.
The final decision will be made by the Board of Trustees.
According to Lt. Brad Young of the PCC Police Department, who served as an advisor to the task force, the "Arming the Police" Task Force was persuaded by the evidence.
The task force, originally established by then Vice President of Administrative Services Kindred Murillo, who served in that position from August 2007 to August 2008, was designed to examine the pros and cons of arming the campus police.
"The firearm problem is a big issue," said Young, a long-time advocate for arming the campus police.
The report that the task force drafted was sent to PCC President Paulette Perfumo in mid-July, according to task force member Mark Zacovic, interim vice president of administrative services.
"[We conducted] deep research into evidence and cases," said Zacovic, about drafting the 64-page report that took 14 months to complete.
"[There is] little to no evidence of there being less safety with armed police," Zacovic said.
Originally the task force was divided on whether to arm the police, Young said. Each side, pro and con, went and researched the issue, looking for arguments that would make their case.
According to Zacovic, the task force came back with two reports, one pro and one con.
"One group had done a better job at making the argument," Zacovic said. "It was the pro side. But we agreed to merge the two documents into one, simply presenting the facts."
Once the report was in its final draft, two of the student members of the task force came to a meeting, complaining that the report was one-sided, according to Zacovic.
"They asked for more time to research into the con side," Zacovic said. "The student voice is important, so we said sure.
"They came back a couple weeks later and said, 'we couldn't find anything on the con side.'"
Zacovic then said that the students agreed the report should stand as it was, with all members of the task force unanimously recommending arming the police.
The matter is expected to be addressed at the next board meeting.
Zacovic speculated the issue had been postponed because the board had more important issues at hand, such as the budget crisis.
The final decision will be made by the Board of Trustees.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 24
Lee Mahan
posted 7/30/09 @ 8:14 PM PST
To quote our president, that is a STUPID idea! There is No reason to arm the campus police except out of irrational fear. Its fear that overturns democracy's and set up dictatorship. (Continued…)
david
posted 7/31/09 @ 8:32 AM PST
you say fear sets up dictatorship?? maybe in the third world countries, when was the last time the US became a dictatorship country?? by not arming the police you are only giving criminals the advantage. (Continued…)
Navy Blue
posted 8/02/09 @ 9:54 PM PST
Dear Lee Mahan: What was your favorite G.E.D. class and PLEASE tell me you are not a PCC "teacher."
Nipper
posted 8/04/09 @ 9:03 AM PST
Hello! Does anyone recall that the CITY OF PASADENA has it's own armed Police force? Whatever happened to just dialing 911??? I see them on campus all the time! Arming the campus security with guns is extremely questionable! I would not be opposed to them carrying tazers, tear gas or pepper spray, but if a situation is so volatile that guns are needed it should be left to the professionals, namely the Pasadena Police Deartment. (Continued…)
Big Ox
posted 8/06/09 @ 7:03 PM PST
The PCC Police Officers should not be armed! They are all officers who could not make it at other police agenices. They were fired or let go because they could not shoot a gun accurately or were below standard officers. (Continued…)
Courier Reader
posted 8/08/09 @ 10:52 PM PST
1) Since when have the PCC police ever needed weapons on campus?
2) Cadets are now costumed in uniforms and white gloves--just to hand out parking tickets. (Continued…)
sage
posted 8/14/09 @ 9:11 PM PST
Let's award a purple heart and one unit of credit to each student shot by campus police.
NAVY BLUE
posted 8/16/09 @ 9:16 PM PST
Dear "Zipper" and "Big Ox-Breath" ~
On August 16th at 9:00 p.m. a an with a shotgun was reported to have walked onto the PCC campus. PCC-PD was first on scene (unarmed). (Continued…)
Grasshopper
posted 8/19/09 @ 7:14 PM PST
Fist of all just so everyone is clear we are talking about arming the campus police not the cadets. Big Ox, what makes you think the police were firedfromtheir old job? Also, why wait until we do have a problem where someone gets shot before we deal with this issue. (Continued…)
B bob
Grasshopper
posted 8/19/09 @ 9:45 PM PST
ist of all just so everyone is clear we are talking about arming the campus police not the cadets. Big Ox, what makes you think the police were firedfromtheir old job? Also, why wait until we do have a problem where someone gets shot before we deal with this issue. (Continued…)
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