Linn-Benton Community College is moving toward a significant shift in its campus security profile. Starting as early as the fall 2026 term, public safety officers will transition from carrying traditional metal batons – or no weapons – to being equipped with Tasers.
The decision follows a “new normal” of increased incidents on LB campuses in recent years. The majority of which involve non-students along with a recent physical assault on an officer at the Benton Center in Corvallis.
While the move has sparked both conversation and controversy among students and faculty regarding the campus environment, along with budget questions and how they are being funded, the college’s leadership maintains that the shift is a move to a safer, more modern method of de-escalation in an event when it is needed.
The Commuter sat down with College President Lisa Avery to discuss the administration decision of public safety carrying Tasers on campus while also addressing the concerns of some students and staff.
Can you explain the administrative reasoning behind the decision to equip public safety officers with Tasers?
Our public safety director approached the executive team a few months ago to discuss the best strategy for keeping students, staff, and officers safe. She provided research suggesting that Tasers are a safer long-term option for both the officers and the individuals they interact with. The heart of the decision is trying to minimize risk and avoid hand-to-hand combat with them carrying just batons.
How would you respond to students or staff who feel uneasy about public safety carrying these weapons?
Currently, our officers carry batons. Research suggests that batons are more likely to result in physical fights, which is often worse for both parties. We want public safety to be able to assist, especially in situations involving mental health crises, from a distance rather than engaging in hand-to-hand combat.
Is this a slippery slope toward having a police presence on campus, similar to OSU?
I want to be very clear, we are not “deputizing” our officers. They are not police officers, and we are not moving toward a model where sworn officers carry firearms on campus. This is not a part of a slippery slope; that is not the environment we have at LBCC.
When will this change go into effect on the administration side?
There is an administrative rule change that must be enacted first. I expect that to happen later this spring term. If approved by the College Council, the implementation would begin in the fall. Officers would spend most of the summer training.
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The Commuter also had a Q&A with Director of Safety and Loss Prevention Rhonda Jaasko and Public Safety Coordinator Adam Weaver to discuss the extensive training involved, and the impact on the college community it may cause to students and staff.
You mentioned a recent assault at the Benton Center. How did that incident influence the decision?
Jaasko: It was on my “to-do list” from the moment I was hired. An officer at the Benton Center was punched by a person who was either in a mental health crisis or under the influence. The individual, who was not a student, charged the officer and disabled his radio.
Weaver: Watching that on video in real-time without being able to help was difficult. A baton requires you to be in someone’s face to use it. A Taser is a distance defense mechanism; it can be used from 26 feet away. That distance could have drastically changed the outcome of that assault.
How will officers decide between a genuine threat and someone experiencing a mental health crisis?
Jaasko: The technical training on the equipment is a small piece. The more important part is crisis intervention training. This is a 40-hour class taught by law enforcement and mental health counselors. It focuses on de-escalation and how to differentiate between a behavioral issue and a mental health crisis. We currently have officers scheduled for this training in July.
Does the presence of a Taser escalate a situation, or does it help neutralize a threat?
Jaasko: Often, just the presence of a Taser stops the behavior because people have seen what they can do and they choose to comply. We get a lot of compliance by merely having the tool available. We aren’t seeing fewer incidents on campus lately; we are seeing an increase in activity, particularly involving the community bus hub.
How can students or faculty learn more if they have concerns?
Jaasko: They can contact me directly. I am always willing to talk to everybody. We are also planning to hold open forums where people can just come and ask questions in an unstructured way. We want to make sure we answer the questions that are coming up before the fall implementation.
On May 4, LBCC’s Civil Discourse Club set up its discussion board in Takena Hall and focused on the question about safety officers carrying Tasers. Some of the anonymous responses included:
“I feel like Tasers are good enough, anything else like guns, I would almost feel unsafe.”
“Tasers are better than guns in my opinion. I’d feel less safe if they carried guns.”
“I worry about medical issues being triggered”
“I feel like I’m missing something, why are having Tasers being considered right now? Did something happen?”
“College shouldn’t be a Second Amendment exception.”
“In Mother Russia everyone has AK-47.”
In a follow-up email, Jaasko responded to questions about the budget concerns on the Civil Discourse board such as “Where are the budget cuts?” and “I have concerns about why the college can afford Tasers but not work affordability effort. :/”
“The Tasers will be purchased using funds that are neither from the operations budget nor personnel funds,” she wrote. Over the years, the college has received money from outside groups using LB’s parking lots.
If you have questions or want more information, contact Jaasko by email: jaaskor@linnbenton.edu or stop by the Public Safety office in Willamette Hall, Room 110 (WH-110).
