Growing Number Of Schools Nationwide Turning To Armed Security

A growing number of schools nationwide are turning to armed security to protect kids in the wake of the massacre in Uvalde. At the Derby School District in Connecticut, armed officers have been on patrol for 5 years. “We don’t know the next time somebody could come through a school door in any school across this country,” says Dr. Matt Conway, Derby School District Superintendent. “You want to know you’ve done everything in your power to protect the people inside.”

All security officers here are required to be former law enforcement. They spend a lot of time communicating with teachers and talking to students. But Tom Pjatak, lead security officer, says their mission is not student discipline. He says, “We are here to make sure everyone comes to school, comes in safe, leaves safe, and that when everyone’s here, there’s no intruders, issues outside on the perimeter.”

In Derby, safety officers carry their weapons in the open. School officials say the point is to be visible so potential threats know the school has armed security. But armed guards are not an automatic deterrent. A study in JAMA Network Open found in 1 in 4 school shootings, the school did have armed security on site.

With districts nationwide considering armed guards, parents are debating the merits and pitfalls. It’s problematic according to Cambria McClain, a parent in California. “You first walk in and you see this armed guard or police officer. And for people of color especially it makes us a little more nervous naturally just because of history,” she says.

Joe Martino, a parent and an unarmed school security officer, says he feels better knowing his daughter has armed guards at her school. He says, “They’re right on hand in case something should happen. You don’t have to wait, 2,3,4 minutes for police to come, they’re right there ready to act.” He hopes they never have to act, but like so many parents, he knows schools shooting can happen in any community.

The Derby School District says before hiring armed security guards they held numerous forums and information sessions with parents.