ERIE — Mercyhurst University police officers will soon be carrying weapons on the job like officers on other northwestern Pennsylvania college campuses.

The university’s board of trustees on Saturday adopted a policy allowing campus police to be armed.

Officials said Monday that officers are expected to begin carrying firearms by the beginning of the 2015 spring semester.

President Tom Gamble said officials have always felt access to firearms needed to be in proportion to the risk.

He said officials reconsidered after a man traveled to the campus last fall and killed himself.