Project Summary

After an extensive review, the Security Review Working Group (SRWG) at American University (AU) completed an assessment of campus safety procedures, focusing on the range of options available to the American University Police Department (AUPD) officers to help strengthen their ability to respond to situations involving weapons. The review culminated in an update and recommendation to maintain the current AUPD safety procedures and protocols where our campus police department utilizes less-than-lethal equipment including pepper spray and ASP batons.  

Engagement

Through a comprehensive engagement process, the SRWG members, including representatives from the University’s faculty, students, and staff, connected with thousands of AU community members via multiple channels. In September 2024, a website was posted to serve as a centralized repository for all the educational information, documents, and resources related to the review. Later in September 2024, four educational sessions were held. The first set covered current AUPD practices as presented by the University’s Safety and Security, and Risk Management leaders, followed by sessions on law enforcement perspectives with an external panel of academics and researchers, and practitioners in the field. In the six months from the launch of the website to the publishing of the report, the webpages were viewed more than 7,600 times, with 3,100 views of the education session pages. 

In October 2024, nine community forums were conducted with each session intended to include a specific segment of the university community—faculty, students, or staff—who were of like minds regarding the question of changes to the university’s police practices (i.e., those who thought it was a good idea, those who thought it was a bad idea, and those who were undecided). A separate session was held for members of communities with historically challenging relationships with law enforcement. The segmentation of the individuals attending the sessions allowed the forum participants to share their opinions openly among peers in an environment devoid of debate regarding differing views. In November 2024, additional sessions were held at the Washington College of Law. A community survey was conducted in November 2024, collecting additional feedback from faculty, staff, students, parents, neighbors, alumni, and Board of Trustees members. A total of 2,600 members of the AU community responded with their perspectives. 

Community Feedback

When asked to choose which of the four options they preferred, survey participants echoed the concerns shared by community forum participants with 46% choosing to maintain the status quo of an unarmed campus police force. More than half of survey respondents answered the open-ended question: “What impact would you expect arming AUPD with firearms would have on campus climate?”

The main themes of the open text response were concerns about the negative impact on marginalized groups, fear and anxiety regarding the idea of arming AUPD with firearms, the potential for increased violence, and the chilling effect on free speech. While there were some acknowledgments of the potential security benefits of firearms, these views were generally outweighed by the perceived risks and negative consequences.

Feasibility Assessment

As the SRWG completed and executed plans for community engagement through 2024, a subset of the working group worked concurrently to complete a feasibility study to assess the potential financial, legal and logistical implications of a change in practices and protocols. The feasibility study included considerations related to Human Capital Management (HCM), Budget and Resources Requirements, as well as an Institutional Risk and Legal Assessment.

The HCM review revealed recruitment, retention, and training challenges, which would make workforce stability a challenge, particularly in an area with many competing law enforcement agencies. Finally, the substantial start-up cost of approximately $1.3 million over current costs for recruiting, training, and compensation-related expenses for an increased annual budget of $5.6 million raises concerns about long-term financial sustainability. Additional costs for unexpected liabilities or legal challenges could further strain resources.

Takeaways and Next Steps

Based on the feasibility assessment and the university community’s feedback through surveys and forums, the working group recommended that the university maintain the status quo of an unarmed campus police department equipped with pepper spray and ASP batons. President Alger, AU’s President’s Cabinet, and the Board of Trustees are in support of this decision.

While the review to determine that the AUPD should maintain their current procedures and protocols has concluded, the SRWG plans to address community concerns and calls for enhanced transparency and strengthened trust. To continue the conversation with the community, the working group plans to identify and develop opportunities to strengthen trust-building initiatives. They also aim to enhance transparency and collaboration by establishing ongoing advisory groups or forums for sustained community engagement. These steps aim to foster a safer campus environment while maintaining trust and transparency with the AU community.

View the Report