North Texas Suburb May Soon Allow SROs to Bring Rifle Inside Schools

North Texas Suburb May Soon Allow SROs to Bring Rifle Inside Schools

The Coppell ISD is debating whether or not to allow School Resource Officers to bring their rifles into the campuses they monitor

Coppell is a city located in the northwest corner of Dallas Country. It has a population of a little over 40,000, and its ISD serves nearly 12,000 students in Coppell, Grapevine, North Irving, Valley Ranch, and the Cypress Waters area of Dallas.

Only a few months ago, an armed man robbed someone on the Coppell High School campus. Although the man was arrested within 24 hours, it was an incident that made the ISD start to consider additional options for securing their campuses.

Right now, the Coppell ISD Board of Trustees is considering allowing SROs to bring rifles into the schools they’re monitoring.

"Rifles are nothing new in law enforcement," said Officer Chris Cobb, an SRO at CHS adding that CPD has used them for the last 15-20 years. "Each squad car has a rifle and shotgun. SROs have a rifle. They are trained; they have to qualify with a 100-percent score.”

"The rifle is a far more accurate weapon than a pistol," Cobb continued. "It's also safer with us to get in there to actually eliminate the threat. We can engage a lot sooner. Also, a rifle within itself ... that's a little bit more power than what we're carrying on our hip. So it's kind of an intimidation factor."

Neighboring school districts already allow SROs to bring their rifles into the schools. If CISD approves, each SRO would have to bring their rifle inside a case before they could bring it inside their school. While in their offices, SROs would have their rifles locked inside a safe or locker, and it could only be opened with a key code or fingerprint.

"I don't have a kid right now in the district, but if I did I would be thrilled that this is going on," said Board President Tracy Fisher. "It's just a matter of time unfortunately, and we have to be prepared."

Featured

  • Black Hills State University Takes an Open, Scalable Approach to Video Security

    Black Hills State University recognized the need for a centralized video system to improve campus security and streamline operations. The university sought a solution that could unify its main campus with a satellite location, enable cross-department access, and scale with future growth. By implementing open platform video technology, BHSU laid the foundation for a comprehensive, flexible, and scalable security infrastructure. Read Now

  • Pennsylvania School Uses Locked, Rolling Security Grille to Control Spectators, Secure Building

    St. Jude School in Mountain Top, Pennsylvania, is a private Catholic elementary school that serves students from Pre-K through grade 8. Recognized as a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education, St. Jude offers diverse educational programs designed to foster a nurturing and challenging learning environment, and extracurricular activities like sports are an integral part of promoting teamwork, discipline, and physical fitness. Read Now

  • Fire-Rated Glazing Assemblies Modernize Academic and Social Hub

    In spring 2023, the University of Pittsburgh opened the doors to a seven-story west wing addition to Alan Magee Scaife Hall. The medical school building features several updated lecture halls, labs and classrooms. It also includes team-based learning and small group rooms as well as an entire floor dedicated to medical students. This floor is meant for students to congregate, study and build community. Read Now

  • Access Control Trends Continue to Strengthen School Safety Security

    Class period bells have been ringing across campuses for a few months now, but that doesn’t mean the subject of safety was fully settled before the start of the new school year. As one wise person once said, “It’s a journey, not a destination”. That’s why it remains a leading issue among administrators, faculty, students, and communities. Schools are striving to be at the top of their class when it comes to the ability to control access instantly and securely, monitor suspicious behavior accurately and consistently, and respond to threats immediately and effectively. Ultimately, they aim to provide a reassuring, comfortable, and conducive environment for a rich learning experience. These goals apply whether at a community college in Southern California, a major university in Pennsylvania, or a rural K-12 district in Michigan. Read Now

Webinars