Since the last time the topic about arming Cerritos College Campus Police was discussed, last semester, both senate and cabinet voted in favor of arming it.
With the shootings that occurred last week, people are starting to see the importance of having campus police carry guns.
Cerritos College President Linda Lacy commented on the matter.
“Today, we’re in a very violent society, unfortunately, and there is a problem when our officers are our first responders and they don’t have the ability to combat some of the situation properly.”
The issue was initially brought up last semester during the safety committee meeting.
ASCC President Felipe Grimaldo thinks it is very important to have the police department armed.
“They are all trained officers. Outside in the public, they are allowed to carry their firearms because they are peace officers of the law.
But within our campus they are not supposed to, it’s kind of taking away the purpose of why they are here to protect and serve,” he added.
The issue at hand would be if there are enough funds to buy the necessary equipment. Some of the expenses include the guns itself, ammunition, and proper storage unit.
Stephen Johnson, vice president of student services, said that the funds will most likely come out of one of two places; either from the Police Department funds that they receive through their own revenue, parking or live scan or from the Police Department general fund.
Grimaldo estimates that it would cost $68,000 to equip campus police properly but cannot be confirmed because Chief Richard Bukowiecki could not be contacted for comment.
“[It] is not a lot, if we can just have that protection it would be perfect. If you think about it, we use more money on toilet paper that we waste anyways,” Grimaldo said.
ASCC Vice President Luis Ong believes, “being prepared is the best safety measure we can have.”
The matter will next be presented to the Faculty Senate and will be up for vote.
The next step would be for Bukowiecki to make a presentation in front of the management group that is scheduled to take place Feb. 7. and ultimately the issue will be presented to the Board of Trustees and there is no scheduled date.
Lacy estimates that it would probably take until the end of March for this issue to be resolved.
As a woman on campus, Diana Herrera, business administration major, thinks it is very important to arm campus police, “especially now that I take night classes I need to feel secure, and if they [campus police] are armed I would have a sense of security knowing that if something would occur they will be able to do their duty.
“Also, if people know they are armed the likelihood of someone trying to attempt something won’t be high,” Herrera said.
Lacy adds, “We’re relatively a safe school and our students have never been in jeopardy but you never know when something like that could occur, so you try to take every precaution necessary.”
