In the wake of several fatal shootings that have occurred at the nation's colleges, Villanova University announced Monday that it will be introducing armed police officers to its security force next year.
In a news release, the private Catholic university said it will be joining 70 percent of the nation's colleges in having a department that employs officers who undergo training and are equipped in the same manner as regular police officers, not just security personnel.
Adding 19 armed and trained officers to the 75-member department will give real law enforcement power to a force that didn't before. According to the university, security officers previously did not have the ability to do the following:
• Contact local police departments through direct radio communication
• Use lights or sirens to respond to emergencies
• Stop or detain individuals without their permission
• Carry firearms or defensive equipment
• Access local law enforcement databases
The new officers will begin patrolling the campus during the fall semester of 2016 after undergoing 770 hours of training which includes crisis management, sensitivity training and conflict resolution.
Once they're sworn in, they'll get their guns.
“At Villanova, we value and embrace the concept of an open campus, but we must not overlook the exposure that comes with it,” said Villanova Executive Vice President Ken Valosky, noting the campus' proximity to three train stations and a major highway.
Villanova President Rev. Peter M. Donohue said that recent events have forced the university to rethink its approach.
Earlier this month, ten people were gunned down at a Community College in Oregon.
Only a few days later an anonymous online post, which mirrored a threat possibly linked to the Oregon shooting, warned of similar violence to a Philadelphia-area college, prompting high security at local universities.
“We are extremely fortunate that Villanova has been a safe place," Donohue said in the release. "But given the increased frequency of safety and security incidents at colleges nationwide, it is essential that the University is proactive in strengthening our ability to provide a safe and secure campus environment.”