For the coming school year, an Ohio school district has approved 32 employees to have access to firearms as part of a new armed security response team

Ohio School Approves Armed Security Response Teams

For the coming school year, an Ohio school district has approved 32 employees to have access to firearms as part of a new armed security response team

  • August 11, 2017

Last year, the Mad River Local School District located in Riverside, Ohio, voted to have armed security response teams at their schools. These teams consist of employees who had to pass an interview process and training program in order to be approved as one of the team. For the 2017-2018 school year, 32 employees make up the first armed response team.

“Our armed response team is a blend of different staff members that are full-time,” said Chad Wyen, superintendent of the Mad River Local Schools District. “They have been trained through the FASTER Saves Lives training. It is hands-on and they actually have to qualify just as an Ohio peace officer would.”

The response team and Wyen will be able to access the firearms, which are locked in security boxes and placed in various areas throughout their 8 school buildings. Members of the response team will only access the firearms in the event of a true emergency such as an active shooter situation.

Wyen said that the schools just want to be prepared in case something like that should happen, especially after two school shootings took place at neighboring school districts.

The response team will train with local law enforcement twice a year as well as using a shooting range for target practice.

“The reality is that could happen here. I’m not comfortable with that and I don’t ever want that to happen here,” Wyen said.

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