The State Board of Higher Education granted permission at its June 21 meeting for the University of Oregon to equip its police officers with firearms. The board acted on the recommendation of UO President Michael Gottfredson, who reached the decision following a campus engagement process that considered input from many members of the campus community. In his recommendation, Gottfredson cited the safety and security of faculty, students, staff and the community as his primary consideration.
Following a unanimous vote by the state board members, those on campus can expect to see additional police services begin immediately.
Currently, UOPD has 10 sworn police officers, all supervisors of the rank sergeant and above. Each has completed required state certification and training that apply to all police officers in the state and can begin carrying police department-issued firearms immediately in the line of duty.
On-duty police supervisors will be able to expand services beyond what was possible when officers were unarmed. The additional services include responding to domestic disputes in university housing facilities, stopping armed or dangerous individuals on campus, and transporting arrested individuals to jail, beginning immediately according to Chief Carolyn McDermed.
“The UO is a safe campus; however, there are situations that occur on a regular basis that will be resolved more efficiently with sworn, fully equipped UOPD police officers who are familiar with campus,” said McDermed.
Police supervisors can begin to address traffic safety on campus in the coming months, after the department develops training and agency standards for conducting traffic stops.
“Traffic enforcement will be a new service to campus and must be carefully planned with information shared with students, faculty and staff about how traffic laws would be enforced and expectations for traffic stops,” said McDermed.
For off-campus investigations or assistance to other partner agencies, such as Eugene and Springfield police departments or the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, the university leaders will work quickly to proceed with agreements about working together in off-campus areas.
“Our first and foremost priority is to ensure the safety and security of students, faculty, staff and visitors on our campus,” said Jamie Moffitt, vice president for Finance and Administration.
Because of the limited number of UOPD police officers on each shift, Eugene Police Department support will still be requested as necessary depending on the situation.
UOPD is in the middle of the hiring process for its first police line officers. These officers are expected to be hired and sworn by the beginning of fall term. New employees with prior law enforcement certification can begin immediately. If the hires are new to policing, they will first need to complete the state's basic police academy and then complete field training before they will patrol and respond on campus; a process of eight months or more.
When fully staffed, there will be approximately three police officers per shift around the clock, 365 days per year.
- from the UO Office of Strategic Communications