Students are debating student security and the role of guns on campus after Sierra College disbanded its private police force and handed over law enforcement to Rocklin Police.

Last Thursday, Sierra’s Student Senate, the governing body of the Associated Students of Sierra College, approved a thumbs-up measure in support of the $223,263, 120-day contract with the Rocklin Police.

“The majority of the senate was in favor of the RPD contract,” said Senate representative Viktor Yantsevich.

According to the contract, Rocklin Police will be paid $1,860 per day for the city’s personnel, equipment and administrative costs. In addition, the college is paying for research and a long-term strategic planning fee of $10,000 and $5,798 for start-up costs, which include installation of a radio receiver.

Sierra student Brett Ransford said he would have liked a mass e-mail from the college explaining the change in student policing.

“Without direct contact with Sierra College telling us what exactly is going on, it is a little ambiguous as far as what is going on on-campus and how our money is being spent,” Ransford said.

Some students expressed confusion over the difference between the role of the campus security guards and the former Sierra College Police. According to officials, private security guards contracted with Securitas Security Services will be paid to unlock classrooms, initiate parking enforcement and observe and report violence or law enforcement issues to Rocklin Police Department. The two Rocklin Police Department officers stationed on campus from about 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily and will be supervised by a Sergeant on half time. A former Student Senate member Justin Walker said questionable activities could happen when the officers have gone home.

“There is risk involved in not having this place protected at night,” Walker said.

Rocklin Police Department Captain Dan Ruden said officers would respond any time of the day or night if called and the college would have access to all of its resources including the SWAT team and crime scene units.

“We are there to ensure student safety and our officers are trained and equipped to handle anything,” said Ruden.

Sierra College officers were not certified and were never authorized to carry arms, according to campus officials. Some students have expressed reservations about armed police officers patrolling the campus.

“I don’t think it’s necessary,” said freshman Austin Crawford. “I think campus police being replaced is a negative thing.”

Walker said the armed patrols are being noticed.

“That kind of pronouncement draws a level of discomfort,” Walker said. “It is simply the fact that we are much more aware of the fact there are officers on campus and they carry lethal weapons.”

Ruden said their presence is a deterrent to criminal activity and incidents like the recent stabbing at a dorm on the Sacramento State campus and the 2007 Virginia Tech Massacre highlight the need for armed police officers on campus.

“Without the training and the equipment they can not meet those challenges,” Ruden said. “Our officers have a number of tools but their most important and useful tool is their mouth, communication.”

Rocklin veteran Officer Joyce Metzger who is assigned to the campus spends most of her day now getting to know students and staff and talking to them about her new role.

“Ultimately I’m not trying to get a bunch of arrests every week, I don’t have a quota,” Metzger said. “I’ll be a walking information board and help out where I can.”

Metzger has 15 years experience as a police officer including four years as an on-campus officer at San Jose State.

Annually, there are 62 violent crimes per 100,000 college students, according to a federal study. Just last year a Sierra College student was stabbed during class by another. Third year student Becka Gow witnessed the stabbing and is unsure if Rocklin Police Department could have done a better job.

“It was over really fast,” said Gow. “I don’t think any officer could have got there quick enough to stop anything. The two were sitting there when the police showed up.”

The gun issue was discussed by the Student Senate who ultimately favored a longer term contract with Rocklin Police Department instead of the college trying to build their own campus police force with fee hikes and budget cuts.

“Allowing a trained police force to carry guns on campus makes the most sense in terms of safety,” said Yantsevich. “Although initially guns may make an uneasy atmosphere for the students, I hope they will gradually get accustomed to it since the people carrying them are trusted by the city of Rocklin to do so.”

The measure was a symbolic gesture of support for a proposed measure by the Board of Trustees that would extend the contract past March 1, 2010.