Should Cops Office In Schools?
A simple solution to deter school shootings
Here we go again.
Nashville is the most recent city to be terrorized by a school shooting. This time a 28-year old female killed 6.
As everyone is aware, these shootings are used and abused for political gain. Often times the crime is considered racially motivated until they reveal that the shooter is not a white person. Democrats inevitably call for more gun control while 2A proponents call for armed teachers as a deterrent.
I do like the idea of armed teachers. However, since a majority of teachers coming out of the university systems are Democrat voters, I would guess that too few would take up arms. Or they would lack the confidence necessary for a carry permit.
A Simple Solution
Here it is. Ready?
Local police officers should office out of their local schools.
They should park their squad cars right in front.
They should have an office right near the front entrance.
They should walk the halls, armed, to get a drink of water or use the restroom.
They don’t need to do much, other than just BE THERE from time to time.
Simple. Efficient. Quick.
I see at least three major benefits:
Shooters would be deterred if they saw the cop car out front or knew that the cops’ office was near the front door.
Shooters would not be able to kill as many people if a cop was on site.
Parents would feel assured.
Maybe a fourth benefit would be something about reduced office space at City Hall/Police Station. I don’t know.
And I see very little (real) downside apart from some logistical hurdles.
“but they already have that…”
Yeah, They’re Called School Resource Officers (SROs)
Ahhh, but I am talking about something different than traditional “Resource Officers” or SROs.
School resource officers (SROs) are being increasingly employed in schools to respond to incidents of school violence and to help address safety concerns among students and staff.
You can read more about SROs HERE & HERE in these studies, but the primary role of a traditional school resource officer is to serve the school actively and deal with daily school crises:
The most common crisis events across professionals included student assaults, drug offenses, and mandated child abuse and neglect reporting.
SROs are typically funded, which creates an added layer of bureaucracy and complication.
Since George Floyd, SROs have become increasingly controversial. You can find tons of info on SROs and how communities, school boards, students and schools feel about them.
Much of the debate centers on race.
And, quite frankly, many communities would rather run the risk of crises than have an “officer” in the school.
For example, recently in St. Paul, MN a kid was stabbed to death in the school and at the next school board meeting students and parents were demanding FEWER school officers.
“And, whether it’s a security guard, or a school resource officer, it makes me feel uncomfortable,” said Okolo. “Because I feel like teachers should stand in the hallways, like, not somebody who’s carrying a potentially lethal weapon that could hurt or kill somebody.”
Of course, not everyone opposes more officers in schools.
17-year-old Valeria Barrios Sanchez told SPPS school board members she supports bringing back St. Paul Police officers into public schools, after witnessing Scott’s death.
But the trouble with SROs is that they need funding and a job description—both of which make for an uphill battle in today’s political climate.
How Cops Are Different
Having local police officers passively office out of the schools would differentiate them from the active role of SROs.
We don’t need cops actively involved in day to day school crisis management to help prevent a school shooting. Leave the active, day to day crisis work to the school staff (including SROs if they exist). We just need cops present as a deterrent to something big. We need criminals to know that the school is where cops hang out between shifts and where they do their office work. We need deranged individuals to see cops coming and going and see the cop cars parked outside.
Many communities have bad relationships with their local police, making this proposal somewhat of a non-starter. I would argue, however, that any community where a police presence is some kind of “micro aggression,” “literal violence” or “makes me feel uncomfortable” could probably use more police involvement in the day to day life of the community. Not less.
But most importantly, a cop presence in schools would deter big events like shootings and cops could respond quickly if one did occur.
In case you missed it…
This makes so much sense!