Security First, the company that provided armed security guards on Whitman’s campus, lack the necessary licensing that would allow its employees to carry weapons according to licensing documents shared with The Wire by an anonymous source.

The businesses licensing number (24024665), issued September 11th 2024 and expiring September 11th 2025, describes the company as an active Security Guard program. Three active licenses held by security guards associated with the business categorize the individuals as “unarmed security guards.”

Jeff Scott Preas, Landon W Adams, and David Lee Neissl are all listed as active security guards with the company and hold the label of “Unarmed Security Guard” — Preas holds the label of “Unarmed Principal/Qualifying Agent.”

The security guard hired by Whitman and stationed outside of Memorial Hall last night had a weapon visibly holstered on his hip. When asked by Wire reporters if the weapon was a gun, the guard refused to answer. However, Sarah Bolton’s email to campus sent at 6:31pm this afternoon states “I want to be really transparent that last night the officer was, in fact, armed.” Additionally, Sgt. Nick Loudermilk with the Walla Walla Police Department told The Wire that Greg Powell advised them about the presence of armed guards on campus: “we were advised by the security director that Whitman started supplementing security with a private armed security firm. Regular Whitman Security is still conducting their normal duties.”

Bolton’s most recent email also clarified that armed individuals, other than law enforcement, are not allowed on college campuses: “it is against college policy for anyone other than sworn law enforcement officers in the course of their duties to carry firearms on campus.”

Security First has not responded to The Wire‘s numerous requests for comment. They have also blocked one Wire reporter’s phone number.

**Update, 8:10PM — David lee Neissl, the security officer stationed at Mem yesterday night, told a student that he was armed, according to a message sent to The Wire by an anonymous source. This appears to be a breach of security’s role, per Bolton’s email: “they are not intended to engage with students or others on campus in the course of their work.”