The MCC Board of Trustees approved changing the status of MCC public safety officers to peace officers during its board meeting yesterday.
“The safety of the employees and students of Monroe Community College remains our prime consideration,” said MCC President R. Thomas Flynn. “This change, as permitted by state education law, is one step we are taking to ensure the continued safety of our college community and campus visitors.”
Already, MCC’s officers are trained at the Public Safety Training Center’s police academy in the same program in which all area police officers are trained. As MCC public safety officers, they complete 880 hours of training – more than is required for public safety officers and more than is required for peace officers. Officers also already take part in ongoing in-service training.
MCC will work with the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services to begin to transition members of the Public Safety Department to peace officers. The transition process could take several months before officers are certified and sworn in.
Peace officers have the legal authority to make arrests for violations of law and to issue court appearance tickets – in addition to their current ability to enforce all college policies, procedures and regulations. Such authority can mitigate the escalation of behavior and bring quick resolution to potentially violent situations.
Peace officers also may carry firearms. MCC will develop guidelines outlining circumstances under which its peace officers may carry firearms.
Cynthia Cooper
College and Community Relations
06/10/2008 |