Move over, Fireman Randy
Remember when Portland's water commissioner proposed that the security guards for the city's water system become his own little armed police force? Well, now the state university system wants the same thing -- and they've gotten the state senate to vote to give it to them.
This is the same state university system that wants the taxpayers to hand it hundreds of millions of borrowed dollars, and then surrender all meaningful oversight in the future. There's something really wrong in that neck of the woods. Not to mention the bobbleheads in the legislature (in this case, Floyd Prozanski) who are prepared to hand the academic bureaucrats whatever they demand.
| Posted at 10:41 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (5)
From the RG: "(Sen. Brian Boquist, R-Dallas) added that allowing university police departments to enforce any administrative rule and policy established by the board or a university would set a dangerous precedent."
So, the UO President will now be able to establish an administrative rule and then have his armed campus police enforce it.
I don't think I've ever donated money to a Republican before, but if Boquist has a website for donations, somebody point me to it!
Posted by UO Matters | April 19, 2011 12:19 PM
I guess that tells us you what they think about their bosses that make all their little dreams come true with our taxes.
Posted by Steve | April 19, 2011 2:49 PM
If we need impartiality between the universities and law enforcement, why not follow the Oregon State University model?
Oregon State Police patrols OSU.
Posted by Erik H. | April 19, 2011 3:05 PM
The step that comes two years later is that the union that represents the University police force will say that, since the employees carry weapons and enforce laws, they should have the same early retirement and other benefits that (say) the Portland police enjoy.
Posted by Isaac Laquedem | April 20, 2011 8:45 AM
Isaac:
Why wait? It's already a special clause in Prozanski's SB405:
(14) 'Normal retirement age' means:
(a) For a person who establishes membership in the system before January 1, 1996, as described in ORS 238.430, 55 years of age if the employee retires at that age as a police officer or
firefighter or 58 years of age if the employee retires at that age as other than a police officer or firefighter.
(b) For a person who establishes membership in the system on or after January 1, 1996, as described in ORS 238.430, 55 years of age if the employee retires at that age as a police officer or
firefighter or 60 years of age if the employee retires at that age as other than a police officer or firefighter.
{ + (f) Police officers who are commissioned by a university under section 1 of this 2011 Act and who are classified as police officers by the university. + }
Posted by UO Matters | April 20, 2011 11:50 AM