By Daniel Tellez
Security officers at Front Range Community College have traded in their traditional batons for a new, less harmful tool.
Each is equipped with a specially formulated spray that uses a strong, disorienting odor to stop individuals without causing lasting injury.
The shift is part of a broader safety overhaul designed to protect students while emphasizing de-escalation and inclusion.
Each FRCC campus will now have at least one security officer equipped with a firearm. That officer must complete 40 college credits in police work — nearly a full associate’s degree — ensuring extensive training in both firearm use and crisis intervention.
In a press conference with Front Page staff, Vice President Rebecca Woulfe said that safety goes beyond equipment.
“Our goal is to make everyone feel safe and welcome,” she said.
To promote belonging, the college has hired more bilingual staff and is translating its official websites into Spanish. Together, she said, the changes reflect a dual focus: immediate physical safety and the longer-term comfort of every student on campus.
