School Board Arms Head of Security

School Board Arms Head of Security

McCrum will join Rotterdam Police Officer Mike Rumbaugh, the district’s school resource officer, as the district’s armed security.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • November 01, 2018

The Mohanasen School Board in Rotterdam, New York, authorized Monday the district’s head security monitor, James McCrum, to carry a firearm as part of his job duties with the district.

The board unanimously approved authorizing McCrum to carry a firearm. McCrum first joined the staff in 2016 after more than 20 years as a state police officer.

McCrum will join Rotterdam Police Officer Mike Rumbaugh, the district’s school resource officer, as the district’s armed security. McCrum will be stationed at the middle school and Rumbaugh will remain stationed at the high school, according to Mohanasen Superintendent Shannon Shine.

Shine said he believed in the Rotterdam PD’s ability to respond in an emergency, but that even the few minutes it could take them to get to campus could make a big difference in student safety in the event of an active shooter incident.

“For me, it’s about response time in any serious but unlikely situation,” Shine said. “We need to be able to mount an appropriate response in a timely manner.”

Shine said McCrum will begin carrying a firearm as part of his duties once the district has confirmed that its insurance costs won’t rise and officials determine what training will be required of McCrum each year. McCrum oversees 12 other security monitors, but the board is not considering arming the other monitors at present.

Shine said he was approached by McCrim, Rumbaugh and the assistant superintendent for business about seeking authorization for McCrum to be armed shortly after Shine took over the superintendent position this summer.

The Rotterdam PD has been informed that McCrum may soon be armed while on campus, and district officials will continue to communicate with the police, Shine said.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

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