The school and the county sheriff’s office signed a memorandum of understanding formalizing responsibilities for the two forces on Monday after the college’s Board of Trustees last week voted to approve arming officers at its Westminster campus about 30 miles southeast of Baltimore.
It is our belief that having armed Special Police Officers will better protect the college community and our officers during critical situations on campus,” Executive Vice President of Administration Alan Schuman said in a news release.
The majority of the six full-time officers are retired law enforcement with experience carrying a firearm. They will be armed when the program is instituted in the next few months.
There have been situations when officers have been armed for a day when there was a perceived threat, but this would be the first time they would be routinely armed, according to Sylvia Blair, executive assistant to the president.
Under the agreement, the college’s Office of Public Safety and Security will have jurisdiction over minor property crimes, alcohol violations and disorderly conduct complaints. The sheriff’s office will investigate violent crimes, missing person reports and all drug violations.
“It allows the college and the sheriff’s office to work more closely in providing a safe environment for students attending school on the campus there and other activities, as well as sharing information and resources to improve public safety,” said Col. Phil Kasten of the sheriff’s office.