Authorizes Class Three special law enforcement officers to provide security at public and private colleges.
The adoption of S166 would modify existing legislation, primarily amending P.L.1985, c.439 concerning special law enforcement officers. This change would enhance security on college campuses, allowing for an additional layer of law enforcement presence, which could lead to improved safety measures for students and faculty members. However, the act sets clear guidelines, stipulating that these officers cannot be dispatched off-campus, thereby maintaining a focus on the designated educational environment.
Senate Bill S166, introduced in the New Jersey Legislature, aims to expand the scope of Class Three special law enforcement officers so that they can provide security at four-year public and private colleges. This follows the introduction of Class Three officers under P.L.2016, c.68, which already allows these part-time officers to secure public and nonpublic schools and county colleges. The bill stipulates that Class Three officers must be retired police officers under the age of 65, ensuring that they are experienced and adequately trained for their duties.
While proponents, including school administrators and law enforcement advocates, argue that this bill will create safer educational environments through a dedicated security force, opponents raise concerns over implications for local governance and the potential reliance on retired personnel for active policing duties. Critics express apprehension about how this might affect the community relationships that existing officers build with campus populations, fearing that a transient workforce could detract from long-term safety cultures on campuses.