Pennsylvania School Board Votes to Hire Two Armed School Police Officers

Pennsylvania School Board Votes to Hire Two Armed School Police Officers

Two full-time security guard positions with the Pennridge School District will be changed to school police officers who will carry guns.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • March 27, 2019

The Pennridge School Board in Pennsylvania voted Monday night to hire two armed school police officers for the high school.

Board member Peter Yarnell cast the only no vote, citing “real reservations about putting armed officers in the high school,” he said. The other eight school board members said it was a necessary measure to protect students and staff, and had been recommended by the four police chiefs whose departments have jurisdiction in the district.

“If we ignore the recommendations by security experts and something happens, we all have to live with that,” board President Megan Banis-Clemens said.

According to School District Superintendent David Bolton, the positions would be advertised and the new officers could be ready to start by the time students head to school for the 2019-2020 school year.

Currently, Pennridge has three full-time and two-part time security guards, all of whom are assigned to the high school and none of whom are armed. Following Monday’s vote, two of the full-time positions will become school police officers who would be armed, and a third unarmed part-time security guard will also be added.

These additions will cost an extra $83,000, district officials estimated.

Bolton said one of the school police officers will also have the title of Security Director and be in charge of the security staff.

The school police officers will primarily work at the high school, but they will visit and “develop relationships” at other Pennridge schools, Bolton said.

The school police officers will go through extensive training, including firearms training. They will also receive ongoing training.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Electrified Latch Retraction Locks Key Benefits for Retrofits

    Building owners and facility managers increasingly rely on electrified hardware to enhance security while meeting accessibility standards. Among these technologies, electrified or motorized latch retraction locks are especially effective for retrofit projects where existing door and frame conditions complicate upgrades. Latch retraction capable locks combine security, accessibility and code compliance benefits, making them ideal for retrofitting fire-rated and non-rated openings in schools, healthcare facilities, commercial buildings and more. Read Now

  • How Cloud Security Solutions Are Transforming Campus Safety

    Campus administrators today face a challenging mandate: deliver stronger security across their facilities while working within tighter budget constraints. From school districts focused on student safety to hospitals protecting patients and staff, the question remains the same: how do you build security infrastructure that evolves with your needs without requiring massive capital investments? Read Now

  • Rethinking Campus Security From the Inside

    For decades, campus security strategies focused on keeping threats outside school walls. But since the tragedy at Columbine High School, data has shown that many attacks begin inside the building, often in classrooms and corridors. This shift has prompted schools to rethink security from the inside and place greater emphasis on interior elements such as classroom doors. This shift is evidenced by a new generation of classroom door systems engineered to delay inside intruders and an ASTM standard that raises the bar on how these systems must be designed to defend against attack. Read Now

  • AI in Security: Advancing Campus Safety and Considerations for Implementing

    Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to capture attention across every sector, and the physical security industry is no exception. Once seen as experimental, AI-enabled analytics now underpin how organizations monitor environments, detect threats, and make decisions. What was once futuristic is now a practical necessity for safety professionals managing growing volumes of data, tighter resources, and increasing expectations for faster, more accurate responses. Read Now

Most   Popular