armed security guard

New Mexico Community College Board Approves Request for Armed Security

Security officers at Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Campus may soon be able to carry firearms.

  • By Sherelle Black
  • September 30, 2019

The head of the Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Campus Security wants to be proactive when it comes to preventing mass shootings on campus.

He believes one way that his officers can help neutralize a situation is by having the ability to arm the security guards.

On Wednesday, the ENMU-R Community College Board heard his request, and voted unanimously to approve it, according to the Roswell Daily Record. On Friday, the ENMU Board of Regents were expected to consider the matter.

“As you recall, part of enhancing student success is to enhance security,” said Brad McFadin, head of ENMU-R security. “We’ve improved our lighting and our video surveillance to improve what we already have on campus. … Becoming armed is just another option and tool to that, to enhance our student success.”

If approved by the board of regents, the campus would join others in the state like the New Mexico Military Institute, which has a full police force, and ENMU campus in Portales, which has some armed officers.All state universities have at least some armed security personnel, according to RDR.

The board estimated that the initial cost is $272,157 with recurring costs estimated at $7,000 a year.

The guards will have the option as to whether they would like to be armed. If they choose not to, they will be trained on how to de-escalate by using methods such as pepper spray and tasers.

About the Author

Sherelle Black is a Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

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