By Staff Reporters | Posted: Sunday, February 10, 2008 12:00 am
The 2009 legislature may be asked to allow campus security officers at public universities to carry weapons, a Republican state legislator says.
"I'm gratified to see the governor and higher education executives have finally seen the light on beefing up campus security in Oregon," Rep. Linda Flores , R-Clackamas, said ina statement Friday.
She referred to new developments this week.
Friday the State Board of Higher Education discussed changes in state law during the 2009 legislative session which would allow campus security officers at public universities to be fully trained and carry firearms, according to Flores.
Earlier in the week, Gov. Ted Kulongoski signed an executive order creating a Task Force on Campus Safety in Oregon.
"Three more lives were lost in a shooting incident at Louisiana Technical College today," Flores said, "another tragic reminder for all of us that we need to do more to protect our students, faculty and visitors on our college campuses."
For the past year Flores has been pushing a proposal to elevate "special campus security officers" so they can have more authority and the authority to carry handguns. They are currently prohibited from carrying weapons on school grounds.
As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, Flores pushed for passage of House Bill 3318. She said it was bottled up in committee last year in part because Oregon University System executives testified against it.
HB 3318 was brought to the floor for a vote and was approved 39-18 but died in the Oregon Senate.
Over the past month, public safety meetings have been held at the state's seven universities. Flores said the higher education board may have now reversed its position and might allow campuses the option of enhancing their police departments.
Currently, Oregon State University contracts with Oregon State Police in addition to using campus officers. At the University of Oregon, Eugene police have an agreement to provide some law enforcement services, but there are also university officers.
The governor's executive order reads in part: "Oregon campuses must have appropriately equipped and trained emergency responders available and prepared."
The new task force is also charged with reviewing, "training of law enforcement officials and first responders to crisis situations," among other items.