Lockdown at CCSU (next door to Charter Oak)

[DrJohn]

Sanatone,

I'm a senior police officer, and have been for over 10 years. I'm also an academy instructor, Field Training Instructor, Mental Health Officer and a Commissioned Security Officer Instructor. I do not believe allowing security officers to carry off duty will ever happen. Texas Penal Code 46.02 states that the state statute on unlawfully carrying a weapon does not apply to peace officers. I doubt the state legislature will ever amend that to allow minimally trained security officers to carry off duty since they have no constitutional powers of arrest at any time. A peace officer on the other hand, is still a peace officer whether off duty or on duty.

Police Officers are required to have passed a psychological exam and interview prior to being sworn in, a commissioned Security Officer does not have any such requirement. Now, I'm not going to debate the effectiveness of the psychological exams, I believe that exam and interview should have to be passed every five years as a condition of employment instead of just once at the beginning of your career or after a two year break in service.

I think the training requirements of security officers are pitifully lacking, I think the Commissioned Security Officer course should be a hundred hours long, and I also think that TCLEOSE (Texas Commission on Law Enforcement) should take over the licensing of commissioned security officers, much as they do for Armed Public Security Officers.

As for places a police officer can not carry a weapon? The only place I know of is while off duty in the secured areas of an airport, I carry all the time in Federal Buildings, I present my credentials to the security guard on duty and pass right through. As for an on-duty status, there is no place in America that restricts a police officer from carrying a weapon with them in the performance of their duties.....including the secured areas of an airport or on a commercial aircraft. (juvenile proceeding not withstanding)

When I am off duty, I even carry on campus concealed. It isn't against any state law, while it might violate university policy there is no state law that bans that. Besides, no one even knows if I have a weapon on me as it doesn't show. I agree with you, that CHL holders should be allowed to carry on campus. As of the poster who stated that he believes police officers are under-trained on firearms and tactics, I agree with you. My department requires me to qualify twice a year, and none of that qualification involves moving and shooting and other dynamic tactics. The department leaves it up to individual officers to gain proficiency with their weapons, and many officers do, but not all. Personally, I think the training should be more dynamic, scenario based training and qualifications but that requires money and money is very hard to come by in most department budgets. It is hard enough to budget for enough officers and equipment as it is, training is a secondary consideration at best. I would love to see this change, I would love to see some of the same type of training that the U.S. Secret Service Protective detail receives, those guys and gals are second to none when it comes to firearms.