HONOLULU -- In the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings, the security director at the University of Hawaii at Manoa said he will ask the Board of Regents for the authority to hire a new, armed police force on campus.

That idea is not stilling well with all law enforcement authorities.

UH officials said they have been talking about beefing up its campus security long before the Virginia Tech massacre. For the last two years, UH officials have been talking about the need to have armed officers on campus with powers to arrest.

UH officials said a student sit-in at UH President David McClain's office in April 2005 got them thinking.

Campus Security Director Neal Sakamoto wants the university to hire nine armed officers to work alongside the UH's full-time staff of 41 security guards.

"My plan at this point is if we do it is to slowly add some campus police office and keep the security officers we have," Sakamoto said.

Sakamoto said UH could hire Honolulu Police Department officers or state sheriffs or start its own new campus police force.

However, Honolulu Police Chief Boisse Correa said it is not necessary to create a new special police force on campus.

"Right now, we have enough officers to respond. Our record has been very good to respond to UH or any school," Correa said.

Gov. Linda Lingle supports the idea of armed campus officers.

"I think it is something we should look at and I look forward to talking with all the parties about it. I think everyone whether you are a student or parents of students should have a right to feel secure on campus," Lingle said.

Sakamoto's proposal to hire armed guards will be presented to the Board of Regents and student and faculty groups.