Rockland County, NY – The job description for five Rockland Community College security officers has gotten a little beefier when the county Legislature approved five positions of peace officer spots.
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The five new peace officers will have the authority to make arrests, detain suspects and write summonses but still less than police officers.
"Campus security is an issue among all colleges across the country," RCC President Cliff Wood said, the college had been trying to get peace officers for a few years, he said.
The positions are in response to an initiative pushed by the State University of New York, which includes RCC and more than two dozen other community colleges.
But while the Legislature supported creating the position, some legislators said too many details have not been hashed out.
Legislator David Fried, D-Spring Valley, had some concerns, but while he agreed with the measure's intent, he voted against it, saying it wasn't "mature" enough to go forward.
Fried pointed out that responses to some of the country's recent tragedies, including the Virginia Tech shootings and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, were made worse by poor communication.
About 6,800 students are enrolled at Rockland Community College, and the campus hosts thousands more people during the year for events. The school employs about 160 full-time and 280 part-time workers. [lohud]
Some people obviously need to research a little more before assuming there be back up right away in the event an emergency that requires immediate response, therefore the best thing that ever happen to RCC was to establish these Peace Officers position. These Peace Officers are there every day know the in and outs of the campus and are avialable immediately if needed.
whats the point for RCC to get peace officer powers. Why cant they call Ramapo PD if there is a problem . I think maybe when they become peace officers they can have red lights on their cars and get more respect and look more offical .Lets face it they still will need to call RPD for back up .