At the Madison College District Board meeting later tonight (Dec. 11), Public Safety will give a presentation on the potential deployment of Tasers to full-time officers.

Public Safety is proposing the idea only for the seven full-time officers and two commanding officers. All are sworn-in police officers and have been trained to use a Taser and in what situations to use them in. The students who work at Public Safety will not be equipped with them.

“We have situations like disorderly conduct, assault and other things on campus like you would out in a community,” said James Bottoni, Public Safety director.

Bottoni said just with officers being in uniform exposes them to danger.

“If someone walks in here (with a gun), the officer is going to be the first one who gets shot. We know that,” Bottoni said. “That in itself makes them a walking target.”

Officers are not properly equipped to deal with some of the calls that go into the Public Safety office, Bottoni said. He added the officers do what they can, but are limited to the protection they can offer because the tools are not there.

Just this semester, there have already been several high-profile incidents at multiple Madison College campuses. With the lockdown at the Downtown campus in September, the now-infamous “Locker Thief” and the armed robbery that took place at Walgreen’s at East Washington Avenue and Stoughton Road last month, Public Safety officials say this is the time to move forward with a plan to arm the full-time officers on staff.

“In our estimation and of the city, he (the robber) did come in here. The dog hit this (building) strong. He probably came in here at least once and was potentially was armed. Well, what do we do? Now my officers are a walking target walking around unarmed looking for someone who is potentially armed,” Bottoni said. “It’s not fair to put them in that situation. And what if someone says we recognize this person on the third floor? What do we do? We can’t approach them because we are not equipped to do it.”

Bottoni said equipping the qualified officers with Tasers can help out if a situation arises on campus, especially when city police need to be called.

“In a common situation, we could be waiting 15-20 minutes. That’s just too long,” Bottoni said. “That’s not a knock on them (Madison police), but we just can’t wait that long if someone comes in here with (malicious) intent.”

For an officer to be certified to use a taser, they must be recertified yearly through eight hours of training and the completion a written test.

Public Safety officials say the deployment of tasers will act mostly as a deterrent for individuals who may act violently. Public Safety Sgt. Joe Steffen is also a part-time police officer in Fall River. He is equipped with a taser while on-duty.

“I’ve been in a situation close to having to use it, but I’ve never used it,” Steffen said. “It’s good to have because when they don’t see the taser they don’t comply. When they see the taser, more times than not, they will comply.”

A decision will not be made at tonight’s board meeting, but there will be discussion. However, a decision could be made prior to the start of the spring semester. If the decision is made and is in favor of full-time public safety officers being equipped with tasers, then officers may be equipped with tasers prior to the next term.

If it does go through, Public Safety officials say discussion will start on the potential equipping of full-time officers with firearms and would propose that to the district board as well.

Public opinion is mixed at the college. However, it seems as though everyone agrees that ultimately safety is the top concern while on a Madison College campus, whether students are for the plan, opposed to it, or in favor of one or the other when it comes to tasers and firearms.

“As long as it’s only going to be full-time officers, I see no problem with them having tasers. I don’t think this is the safest place. Anyone can come in (with malicious intent) and it would just be chaos,” said Shaheid Walker, a student who takes classes at Truax. “Thousands of people come through here every day; security should be more than what is at a bar.”

Randi Koski is also a student who takes classes at Truax. She said she does not support any Public Safety officers being equipped with firearms, but she would be in favor of tasers.

“I don’t see the need for (firearms.) I feel safe here and it’s an open environment,” Koski said. “Tasers are OK because there is no chance of accidentally killing someone. It doesn’t seem like this environment needs to have firearms.”

However, there is opposition to the potential move as well. Kailey Gruling, a student at Truax, said she is opposed to either firearms or tasers.

“I don’t think a situation will arise here where they need that level of protection,” Gruling said.

Gruling added she would be opposed to Public Safety being equipped with firearms or tasers as a whole whether those would go to just the full-time officers or everyone who works at Public Safety.

In Student Senate, opinion is mixed as well. At the Student Senate meeting last Thursday, the senate voted 7-5 to reject a motion to rescind a pro-tasers resolution. Officially, the senate as a whole supports tasers for Public Safety, but there are diverse opinions among individuals.

“This means the senate supports taser use, though I and at least five others on the senate do not (individually),” said Student Senate President Colin Bowden in an email to The Clarion.

Bottoni said he expects opposition to this idea, but he wants to do what’s best for the college community.

“You’re always going to get opposition, but it’s what’s best for the community, not just an individual,” Bottoni said.

Public Safety proposed the idea to Student Activities Board at its meeting last month. The district board meeting tonight is in the administration building at Truax at 6 p.m. in the boardroom by the main entrance.

Students may go to voice concerns whether they are for or opposed Public Safety being equipped with tasers.

Also, Bottoni said students who have concerns on either side may contact him at the Public Safety office at (608) 246-6932 or [email protected].