Reducing firearm related violence on college campuses: Police chiefs perceptions and practices

This study assessed university police chiefs' perceptions and practices concerning firearm violence and its reduction on college campuses. Police chiefs are in a unique position to be involved in campus safety management and to implement threat response strategies. A random national sample of 600 campus police chiefs was selected using the Directory of the International Association for College Law Enforcement Administrators. The questionnaire used was designed to determine the perceived roles of campus police chiefs/directors of public safety in reducing firearm related violence on college campuses. Institutionalization of firearm policies and opinions of various potential firearm polices were also explored. The 4 page questionnaire was mailed in fall 2008 using a two wave mailing procedure to ensure adequate response rates. A total of 417 (70%) questionnaires were returned. A firearm incident had occurred in the past year on 25% of campuses and on 35% of campuses within the past 5 years. The majority of campuses (57%) had a plan in place for longer than a year to deal with an “active shooter” on campus. Virtually all (97%) of the campuses had a policy in place that prohibited firearms on campus. The primary barrier (46%) to a highly visible campus plan for preventing firearms violence was the perception that firearms violence was not a problem on their campus. A greater awareness and appreciation of the potential for many more firearm disasters on college campuses and how to prevent them is needed.