University officials decided Monday to allow Public Safety officers access to rifles in case of an active shooter or someone brandishing a gun on campus
UPDATE: Decision to arm Princeton Univ. officers in gun emergencies evolved over months
PRINCETON - Princeton University Public Safety officers, who currently do not carry guns on duty, will soon have access to rifles in case of campus emergencies involving active shooters or armed suspects, Princeton University spokesman Martin Mbugua said Tuesday.
The policy change was announced Monday by Department of Public Safety Executive Director Paul Ominsky during a meeting of the Council of the Princeton University Community. The Daily Princetonian first reported on the announcement.
The change follows a series of deadly shootings on college campuses around the country. Princeton University has long debated whether to keep its campus public safety officers unarmed.
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The Fraternal Orders of Police urged the university to change that policy in 2008, but the university's student government successfully lobbied against the change. The debate continued in 2013.
Princeton University officials said they have been talking about providing officers access to rifles for months, according to the Daily Princetonian.
Currently, the officers from the Princeton Police Department responds to incidents involving an armed suspect or active shooter, and the campus public safety department provides a supporting role.
The new plan to provide campus public safety officers with access to rifles will be implemented over the next several months. Additional details about how that access will be structured were not immediately available.
Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.
