Association News

STATEMENT OF IACLEA PRESIDENT DAVID BOUSQUET ON KILLING OF TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY POLICE OFFICER

On the evening of October 9, a police officer with the Texas Tech Police Department was killed by a student in the university’s police department, according to news reports. The following is a statement from International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) President David Bousquet, who serves as chief of police at Becker College in Worcester, Massachusetts. Texas Tech University is a member institution of IACLEA.

“Our hearts are heavy with the news that a Texas Tech police officer has been killed. IACLEA extends our sincere condolences to the officer’s family, the Texas Tech University police department, and the Texas Tech and Lubbock communities.

“Parents across the globe entrust the safety of their children to campus public safety professionals. We honor that commitment every day in our training, planning, and operating practices. This tragedy apparently began when officers made a routine welfare check on this student to ensure he was safe, as hundreds of campus officers will do today. This practice is one of many that campus public safety officers conduct to protect those we pledge to serve and give peace of mind to their families.

“Campus public safety officers’ scope of duties is broad—from theft prevention efforts, to serious crimes such as sexual assault, to terrorism prevention. Fundamentally, our goal is to keep people safe. Today we are reminded that with our commitment comes the ultimate risk…giving our lives in service. And it’s a risk we accept daily.

“IACLEA thanks the fallen Texas Tech officer for their service and we will honor their memory.”

Between 1923 and today 45 campus public safety officers have died in the line of duty.

IACLEA is the leading authority for campus public safety. Since our founding in 1958, the Association has grown to more than 3,400 members in 15 countries. IACLEA is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors of police chiefs and public safety directors, with international representation. It is headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland, just outside Washington, DC.