Because of rising concerns about college campus safety nationwide, Villanova University announced Monday that it will add armed police officers to its campus, beginning in Fall 2016. The Catholic university currently has a 75-member public safety department, responsible for patrol, investigations, parking enforcement, residence hall and building security, crime prevention and special-event security. But the department’s security officers can’t use lights or sirens when responding to an emergency on the 260-acre, Main Line campus, said Villanova spokesman Jonathan Gust. They can’t stop, question or detain anyone without the individual’s permission. They don’t carry guns or any other defensive equipment. They do not have direct radio communication with local police departments, which can hinder communication in an emergency. And they lack access to local law enforcement databases, which could help in an investigation.

October 19, 2015 ・ From Philadelphia Inquirer