EVESHAM -- New Jersey’s four-year public and private colleges would have access to another option for providing security on-campus and during events under a bill sponsored by Assemblyman Brandon Umba (R-Medford).
Under current law, instead of paying a higher price to hire full-time security guards or school resource officers, New Jersey school boards have the option to instead hire recently-retired police officers to provide security in K-12 schools.
Umba’s proposal would allow these individuals, known as Class Three Special Law Enforcement Officers, to also provide security at public and private institutions of higher education.
Umba, a member of the Assembly’s Higher Education Committee, says employing retired police officers as security personnel means colleges wouldn’t need to compromise security for the sake of costs.
“We are all aware of the high cost of higher education these days,” Umba explained. “Having a full-time, trained police officer on campus means paying a full-time officer’s salary and benefits. Giving flexibility to put recently-retired police officers back on the beat is a safety-enhancing, cost-beneficial alternative that should be available to all our institutions of higher learning.”
Assemblyman Umba’s legislation, Assembly Bill 278, has been referred to the Assembly Higher Education Committee where it awaits further action.
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