New College Campus Safety Measures Announced

A report issued this week encouraged campuses to review their campus security services.

Students relaxing at an Oregon University Salem-News.com photo by Bonnie King

(SALEM, Ore.) - At a rally on the Capitol steps Friday, State Representative Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer, St. Paul, Newberg) announced the introduction of two new legislative measures designed to enhance safety at our state’s college campuses.

Rep. Kim Thatcher

“This new legislation will give Oregon’s public universities the option of allowing their campus security officers to be trained, equipped and armed, essentially becoming regular police officers,” said Thatcher. “It would also enhance their ability to enforce the laws we currently have to combat crime.” State Representative Jeff Barker (D-Aloha) is co-sponsoring the legislation with Thatcher. House Bill 3070 would allow full police authority for campus law enforcement officials. House Bill 3071 gives those officers more authority to enforce state laws. Both measures were filed at the request of the Service Employees International Union which represents dozens of campus safety officers across Oregon. The bills should be posted on the legislature’s website the first part of next week.

Reports From Iraq

Salem-News.com Top Stories
Environmental Protection Agencies: Federal and State Versions Under Siege

---

PTSD, Marijuana and the Atlantic Magazine

---

Paul Kagame: A General Without Generals

---

Confronting Intimidation, Working for Justice in Palestine

---

Misguided Buddhist Zealots

---

It's about time that Oregon enters the 21st century in protecting its public campuses. Why has it taken so long for Oregon to be like the rest of the states in allowing universities to decide how best to protect their institutions up to and inclduing hiring their own campus police? Hopefully, Senator Prozanski's desire to embedd OSP at every campus won't inhibit this legislation. If he wants to help OSP he should provide them resources to increase their ability to actually fulfill their core mission of patrolling our roadways and protecting our rural communities. If UO wants to create their own police department let them, if OSU wants to continue paying OSP $2 million a year for police services afford them that ability. Good luck Representative Thatcher and Baker, create a movement that will lead to better protection of our college kids and their communities.

I found this interesting article about what other college campuses are doing for safety. Could be applicable to this legislation. http://www.govtech.com/gt/articles/625778

Another sneak to ban firearms. This stuff is getting so obvious and how it wreaks what is next, is getting almost funny, if it actually wasn't so serious. The corrupt politicians are being found out, so an all out WAR to take firearms away will continue. But, THEY get to have THEIR guns or body guards. Doesnt seem fair to me.

Name:

Enter the text from the image to confirm you are human.(Cookies are required)

HTML tags and certain characters are removed - (numbers, letters only or post may be cut short.) certain words are banned to stop spammers. All comments and messages are approved by people and self promotional links or unacceptable comments are denied.