The University of Arkansas has created a security department that has the goal to keep the campus safe, but the security officers do not have the same role as a police officer.

Reggie Houser, the executive security manager at the university, said the new security officers will work closely with campus police.

“These security officers are trained to stand at post, work special events, work traffic provide a security detail,” Houser said. “They'll work side by side with the police officers.”

Houser said the police and the security departments have the same goal to keep the campus safe, but the security officers do not have the same role as a police officer.

“Police officers have arrest authority, are sworn,” Houser said. “The security officers are not. They do not have arrest authority. They can't detain people. They can't issue citations or summons.”

Houser added that out of 51 applicants, only three security officers were hired, but he said they would like to eventually have 10.