University police officers are now permitted to carry guns on foot around campus.
Previously, officers were able to keep the weapons in patrol cars in locked boxes, but the new rule has been initiated to promote safety at the university after the massacre at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University last year.
James Flatley, director of Public Safety, said providing officers on foot with guns was the next logical step in the sequence of making the campus safer for students. At times, officers could not have access to guns when they were outside the vehicle. This would put their lives and others in danger when having access to their vehicle was impossible.
He said the cars have been equipped with guns for a while, allowing officers protection while driving throughout Newark. This is the first time officers are carrying weapons on foot on a regular basis. In the past, they only brought firearms to special events.
"We have to keep in mind university police have had access to weapons in vehicles for a number of years," Flatley said. "Officers were authorized to arm themselves by supervisors."
Scott Douglass, executive vice president of the university, said the decision came after campuses across the country began to re-evaluate regulations to prevent a similar event to the one at Virginia Tech last April. This influenced a study regarding what should be added to make the university more secure.
"There was a huge push from parents who wanted us to arm police officers," Douglass said. "We made the decision we were focused on public safety of the community. Policing would do that."
Maria Aristigueta, professor in the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy, said the university has done an excellent job in being proactive in order to prevent a tragedy like the Virginia Tech massacre.
"I think it's demonstrating forward thinking," Aristigueta said. "They're thinking ahead and planning for the worst-case scenario."
Flatley said the university is relatively safe, but there have been instances when guns were needed by officers to protect students and officers.
"There have been a number of times when we received hold up alarms and issued arms for that," he said. "There were incidents of robbery where a weapon was displayed."
In order to initiate the new firearm rules, all officers had to undergo thorough training, Flatley said. The police officers had to recertify at the range, take a three week training course and spend time learning about cultural diversity.
Douglass said the state of Delaware wanted the university to require guns for walking officers for some time, and added it to their legislation.
"The state did put in legislation to require the university to do this," he said. "They wanted us to do a review of campus safety before the new president was here. When we agreed to take a look at it, they withdrew the legislation."
Another important reason to have guns belonging to officers is to increase safety within the Newark community, Flatley said. There is not much of a divide between Newark citizens and university students.
"The city of Newark's streets run through campus," he said. "To take the lead on preventing crime, we need cooperation."
Flatley said while guns may be a positive response to promote campus security, an important aspect of the new ruling is giving the officers the ability to be out in the community more.
"It encourages them to be more visible," he said. "We can develop working relationships with the community."
Aristigueta said she thinks it will help keep the university safer.
"The perception will be that it's safer," she said. "As far as safety is concerned, perception is everything."
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