North Prov. Rep Blasts CCRI President Over Armed Campus Officers

WARWICK, RI — The debate over the issue of armed police officers at Rhode Island's public colleges and universities rages on. Representative William O'Brien questioned Community College of Rhode Island President Meghan Hughes' determination that armed officers would be too expensive.

In a report submitted to the General Assembly last week, Hughes said arming officers would cost approximately $200,000. In response, O'Brien asked how much taxpayer money was used for off-campus officers responding to emergencies on campus.

"How much is the safety and well-being of everyone who steps foot on a CCRI campus worth to President Hughes?" O'Brien said. "It’s simple common-sense that having well-trained and armed campus police force quickly responding to mass shooting threats is better than having to wait, causing precious seconds and minutes to go by, for outside help to come to the rescue. Total safety of the students, faculty, and staff is my only concern, not a one-time cost that is currently being spent on hiring outside law enforcement to help on campus."

During last year's legislative session, the House passed a resolution calling for the state's public colleges and universities to submit reports discussing the controversial issue, due last week. In their reports, both CCRI and Rhode Island College both expressed reluctance to take the step with their officers. The University of Rhode Island has had armed campus police officers since 2015.

Rep. O'Brien has long been a vocal supporter of armed officers. Last week, he announced that he would reintroduce legislation that would make armed officers a requirement. During last year's session, top officials from CCRI and RIC expressed their reluctance.

"We feel very strongly that the community policing model is an effective one," Hughes said at the time. "We have great confidence in the support of our municipal police who are able to arrive to all four of our campuses within minutes."

"If there is a need for armed off-campus police officers, whether during security incidents or events held on campus, CCRI campus police should be handling these situations," O'Brien said in a statement this week. "The amount of money spent on hiring outside armed law enforcement would be better served arming and training CCRI campus police, saving taxpayers the annual cost of hiring outside armed help and more importantly, providing the quickest and closest safety net for our students, faculty, and staff."