2008 Woodie Awards
SectionsUniversity could add security officers in spring
Task force recommends changes after Va. Tech
Robin Hoover
Issue date: 12/4/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Increasing the presence of armed forces on the Missouri State University campus has been recommended by the Emergency Response Task Force Committee recently created by university President Michael Nietzel.
In January, the Emergency Response Task Force will begin discussion on whether or not the increase should be made, but March will probably be when the final decision is reached, Nietzel said.
"I think we have a safe campus," Nietzel said. "We're just trying to give higher levels of comfort levels to students and staff."
Adding police officers to the substation would take the next few years to get completed if it passed through budget, Nietzel said.
The Emergency Response Task force was created in response to the Virginia Tech shootings April 16.
Ken McClure, associate vice president of administrative services, said over time, the existing police staff would be doubled at the substation.
McClure said the decision is part of the budget process.
Currently Missouri State spends $580,000 a year for police officers in a contract with the Springfield Police Department, he said.
According the city of Springfield Web site, the starting salary for Springfield police officers is around $32,000 and after experience, around $42,000.
McClure said the police department has some available officers, but the whole process would have to be phased in.
"You can't go in overnight and double police officers with the police department," McClure said.
McClure said for the recommendation to be passed in the budget, a consideration of whether there is adequate space at the substation to handle a double in forces and the current availability of officers from the Springfield Police Department must be measured.
Amanda Fields, a sophomore biology major, said she thought it did not really matter if more police officers were added or not.
"I'd worry about traffic or parking tickets more," Fields said.
Fields said she feels personally safe on campus, even after Virginia Tech, but would not leave her car unlocked.
"I don't really think about it," Fields said. "I don't think chances of (Virginia Tech) happening here are very high."
In her two years at Missouri State, Fields said she has seen police maybe twice.
"The lack of seeing police officers doesn't make me feel unsafe," she said.
Gary Snavely, director of the safety and transportation office, could not be contacted after four calls for a comment.
In January, the Emergency Response Task Force will begin discussion on whether or not the increase should be made, but March will probably be when the final decision is reached, Nietzel said.
"I think we have a safe campus," Nietzel said. "We're just trying to give higher levels of comfort levels to students and staff."
Adding police officers to the substation would take the next few years to get completed if it passed through budget, Nietzel said.
The Emergency Response Task force was created in response to the Virginia Tech shootings April 16.
Ken McClure, associate vice president of administrative services, said over time, the existing police staff would be doubled at the substation.
McClure said the decision is part of the budget process.
Currently Missouri State spends $580,000 a year for police officers in a contract with the Springfield Police Department, he said.
According the city of Springfield Web site, the starting salary for Springfield police officers is around $32,000 and after experience, around $42,000.
McClure said the police department has some available officers, but the whole process would have to be phased in.
"You can't go in overnight and double police officers with the police department," McClure said.
McClure said for the recommendation to be passed in the budget, a consideration of whether there is adequate space at the substation to handle a double in forces and the current availability of officers from the Springfield Police Department must be measured.
Amanda Fields, a sophomore biology major, said she thought it did not really matter if more police officers were added or not.
"I'd worry about traffic or parking tickets more," Fields said.
Fields said she feels personally safe on campus, even after Virginia Tech, but would not leave her car unlocked.
"I don't really think about it," Fields said. "I don't think chances of (Virginia Tech) happening here are very high."
In her two years at Missouri State, Fields said she has seen police maybe twice.
"The lack of seeing police officers doesn't make me feel unsafe," she said.
Gary Snavely, director of the safety and transportation office, could not be contacted after four calls for a comment.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Foreign Born Patriot
posted 12/07/07 @ 3:54 PM CST
If school shootings were a matter of police presence there woud be none nationwide but the truth is that when something goes down there is no-one safe @ any time. (Continued…)
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