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.

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.

Featured

  • Ensuring School Bus Safety: Tech-Driven Advancements and Their Impact on Student Transportation

    Parents and school districts have always shared one fundamental, non-negotiable goal: to keep students safe while traveling to and from school. Period. Read Now

  • How Campus Security Became an Art of Disappearing

    Walk across any university campus at 8:47 a.m. on a Tuesday, and you'll witness something remarkable. Thousands of students stream through buildings, carrying everything from vintage MacBooks to oversized coffee cups, lost in conversations about weekend plans or upcoming exams. If the right weapons detection is in place, most will never notice the sophisticated security measures protecting them. This invisibility can represent the highest achievement in modern campus security design. Read Now

  • Torrance USD Standardizes Its Mass Communications

    The Torrance Unified School District is a cornerstone of the Torrance, Calif. community, dedicated to providing a high-quality education that prepares students for success in college, career, and life. Serving a diverse student population, Torrance USD delivers a comprehensive and enriching educational experience from kindergarten through high school. The school district comprises 17 elementary, eight middle, and five high schools, one continuation high school, and one alternative high school.  Read Now

  • How a Rural School District Enhanced Safety, Reduced Vaping, and Improved Efficiency by Modernizing Security

    As educational leaders, our primary mission is creating safe, productive learning environments where our students can thrive. Today, that unfortunately means addressing ever-evolving challenges that range from security threats to the growing epidemic of student vaping, all while managing tight budgets and (for many of us) geographically dispersed facilities. Read Now