Ben Wilks

For the first time in its 151 years of existence, Lakeland College will be patrolled by armed security personnel. The gun that they will acquire is a .45 caliber Glock, which is the same as the Sheboygan Sheriff’s Department.

Annette Gamache, director of campus security & safety, David Simon Jr., assistant director of campus security & safety, and four other part-time security personnel will adhere to the firearm regulations for Wisconsin and will be trained by certified firearm instructors. Lakeland will give them the option to conceal their weapon, or display it openly.

Student security staff members will not be permitted to carry a weapon. To distinguish from the familiar red shirt uniforms that unarmed security staff wear, armed security will wear hunter-green polo’s with badges. The back of these polo’s will have Lakeland Security in reflective letters.

“We chose this weapon just in case we need to switch out with an officer or a fellow security guard,” said Gamache. “We need to be compatible.”

Last May, Lakeland College encountered a situation that all colleges and institutions have feared since the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007. An individual, who was not a student, came to play basketball in the Wehr Center. At the time, the gym was open to the public. An altercation occurred between a student and the individual. As a result, the individual went to his car and came back with a gun. No shots were fired. Nobody was hurt, but what if he did fire the gun?

“We weren’t prepared to handle that type of situation,” said Gamache.

Soon after learning of the incident, Gamache suggested that the campus have armed security guards to Nate Dehne, vice president for student development & athletics, who then brought the request to the President of Lakeland College, Dan Eck. Eck discussed it with his cabinet, who then discussed it with the board, which approved the request.

“I wanted to make sure that if there is a ‘next time,’ we are prepared for it,” said Gamache.

When asked if she could think of any scenario in which it would be a bad idea to have armed security guards, Gamache said, “I cannot see a scenario in which this is a bad idea. We are being trained by professionals, and we will always handle situations professionally… We are doing this for the benefit of every life on this campus.”