The department of public safety is still in the process of deciding if and when Harding will have a university police force.
According to Craig Russell, head of the department of public safety, some of the factors the school is considering are the process, cost and personnel who would be needed.
If Harding does decide to have a police force on campus, Russell said the average student will likely not notice any major changes. He said if there were to be police on campus, they would be able to pull people over and operate like normal police officers.
“The police on campus would have the authority to make traffic stops and give tickets,” Russell said. “But that would not necessarily be our highest priority. We are a service-oriented department and that is how we would remain if we had a police force.”
According to Russell, a decision will likely not be made until at least the end of the school year.
“We think a police department would be beneficial in the future, but it won’t prevent us from being a successful department,” Russell said. “We have wonderful resources at our disposal.”
Although there is not yet a conclusive decision, the department of public safety has still been working to improve safety and security for students throughout the past semester and has plans to continue doing so this semester.
Due to the remodeling of the art building, there are new security cameras being added to the Olen Hendrix building, a feature which the department regularly updates.
Construction on the science building will also add additional security measures including access control and possibly new security cameras.
Russell emphasized that the department of public safety is concerned about the safety of students at all times.
“We are very much a part of the Harding community and we take the safety of students seriously,” Russell said. “We want students to be cautious and safe at all times. Think what you can do to protect yourself, things like wearing your seatbelt every day.”
This semester the department of public safety has plans to host training seminars and is already organizing the annual spring disaster drill which will happen in April.
