Villanova University Will Start On Campus Police Department
VILLANOVA, Pa. (CBS) -- Villanova University announced it will establish a university police department.
University officials say they will transition about 19 of the current 75-members of campus security to armed police officers.
Villanova VP Chris Kovolski says the move has been in discussion for about two years. He says campus security officers are limited because they can't use lights or sirens to respond to emergencies, they can't stop, detain or question anyone without permission, they're unarmed, and they don't have direct contact with neighboring police departments:
"This transition allows us to improve our communication with local law enforcement agencies, access informational databases and respond quickly to emergencies."
Kovolski says officers will undergo almost 800-hours of instruction at police academy, similar to what municipal police officers go through. And he says Villanova will set up an oversight committee made up of students, faculty, and staff.
