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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana University in Bloomington and at least four other universities in the state have armed campus police with military-grade equipment since 2010 through a program that distributes surplus military supplies.
A review of public records by The Indianapolis Star (http://indy.st/1tTsSuJ ) found Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne, Purdue University Calumet, Valparaiso University and Vincennes University also have received such supplies, including body armor, military vehicles and M-14 and M-16 rifles.
Feng-Song Wang, chairman of Purdue University Calumet Faculty Senate, said he was shocked to learn campus police at a regional college of 9,400 students would have military-grade gear and requested an inventory of equipment acquired.
"Clearly, I will talk to the vice chancellor about this issue," Wang said.
Herb Terry, former president of the Indiana University Faculty Council, said he trusts campus police to use discretion with the equipment.
"I think you need to remember something about all of our campus police forces," Terry said. "They all, I believe, have the full police powers of any police officer in the state of Indiana. They go through the state academy, that sort of thing."
Weeks of violent conflicts between police in Ferguson, Missouri, and protesters upset about the fatal police shooting of an unarmed 18-year-old led to increased scrutiny about community police having military-grade equipment. Most military equipment is provided to local police under a program administered by Homeland Security and the Pentagon.
Purdue University Calumet Police Chief Anthony Martin said he is re-evaluating his department's need of an M-14 in the wake of what happened in Ferguson, calling it "a heavy weapon."
The extent to which the equipment has been used varies by campus. At Vincennes University, Police Chief James Jones said his officers "haven't had to use" their M-16s, but have been trained with them. At IU, they've been used occasionally for certain felony stops and to respond to reports of armed people or shots fired on and around campus.
Jerry Minger, who oversees seven campus police departments at Indiana University, said it is appropriate for campus police to have such equipment because they are there to protect the community.
"How do you protect the community if you don't have the appropriate equipment to do so?" he asked.
Minger said the prevalence of shootings at colleges and school has changed how campus police prepare.
"Perpetrators were using rifles and high-velocity weapons," he said. "If the criminals have that type of weapon, we need something to combat that with."
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Information from: The Indianapolis Star, http://www.indystar.com
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