State Rep. O’Brien Renews Call To Arm Public College Police Officers

Rep. William W. O’Brien is renewing his call to arm public college police officers after reviewing a Rhode Island State Police assessment of an armed assailant response at the Community College of Rhode Island earlier this year, according to a media release.

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"This State Police report makes it clear that to protect students, faculty and staff, police officers at CCRI and (Rhode Island College) must be properly equipped and armed to deal with potential life-threatening situations," O'Brien, D-North Providence, said in the release.

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"Thank goodness that no one was injured or killed that day, but we were lucky, and the sad reality is that the campuses of CCRI and RIC are not prepared for these types of incidents and attacks due to their presidents’ refusal to arm their campus police,” O'Brien said.

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The report in question said the "CCRI Police Department currently operates without issued firearms or Conducted Energy Weapons (Tasers), significantly limiting officers’ ability to respond directly to active threat situations. As a result, CCRI remains dependent on external law enforcement agencies for immediate threat neutralization,” according to the release.

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"The report also recommends that CCRI evaluates the feasibility of equipping sworn CCRI police officers with firearms or TASERs, and that CCRI issue personal ballistic protection (vests) to all sworn officers to be worn while on duty," the release said.

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