After the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting, a lot of questions were focused toward school administrators and law enforcement officials alike, including your sheriff, as to what should be done to protect the children in our schools.
All good questions.
All potential solutions should be on the table to discuss and strategize effectively and efficiently to protect what I deem is our greatest treasures — our children.
Contrary to what some would want you to think, school shootings are rare. School violence is not. Any school plan and infrastructure improvement should include not only a possible school shooting, but someone causing a disruption, someone with a knife, hostage situations, a trespasser, custody disputes, and troubled children that could become violent, all without becoming a police state.
A paradigm shift is necessary in our school administrators and our community as we prepare for violence and what we typically view as acceptable security in schools.
According to Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, author and speaker about violence in America, we spend millions of dollars on fire safety equipment when we build or upgrade schools — a prudent thing to do.
But do you know how many kids have been killed by school fire, in North America, in the last 50 years? Zero.
In 1999, the year of the Columbine school shooting, school violence claimed what at the time was an all time record number of kid’s lives. In that year there were 35 dead and a quarter of a million serious injuries due to violence in the school.
In 2004, we had a record 48 dead in the schools by violence.
Lt. Col. Grossman makes a valid point, in that we have been resistant and in denial to spend or do what is necessary to protect our children. Our communities are now awakening from this denial. But will that awakening be enough?
Most recently I have met with school superintendents who are located outside of municipal limits to discuss strategy — a sheriff’s effort to partner with the community to solve a problem without dictating or overreaching on local school choices on which path to take.
The superintendents were pleased that law enforcement could provide a unique perspective that they would not necessarily think about.
School officials are understandably pressured by parents to “do something” to protect the children from a Sandy Hook-like incident. However, leaders should avoid spending money prematurely on security before researching the various options.
In and of themselves, cameras, locked doors, ID system for students and one school resource officer in the district are not the panacea to avoid school violence. For example, the SRO may be in a school other than where the violence occurs, sick, in training, or ominously they may be the first target of the gunman.
What is the answer? I do not have all the solutions. But law enforcement partnering with the schools is a start.
We need to look at barriers to unauthorized entry without turning our schools into prisons. We need to take advantage of technology.
Gun-free zones are kill zones. Arming all teachers is not the solution, but arming a few select, highly trained staff, that can conceal a firearm and pepper spray, know how to keep a firearm from children and how to act when law enforcement arrives on the scene, is something that should be on the table.
We protect our politicians with armed guards. Why not our vulnerable, precious children?
We need to empower teachers with the ability to defend themselves and our children through a variety of plans, to include something other than a lock-down, and wait as sitting-ducks, for an active shooter.
Firemen do a great job keeping our children safe from fire. Let’s work together to protect our greatest treasures from violence.
Ask the Sheriff column is published every two weeks. You can email Sheriff Brad Rogers your questions at brogers@elkhartcountysheriff.com.
Breaking News
Related Photos
-
A child sits on a Newtown bus leaving the new Sandy Hook Elementary School on the first day of classes in Monroe, Conn., Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013. JESSICA HILL | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
-
Elkhart County Sheriff Brad Rogers answers your questions in a new column, "Ask the Sheriff," which appears each Friday in The Goshen News. PHOTO PROVIDED
ASK THE SHERIFF: Rethinking how we protect our greatest treasures
- Breaking News
-
-
Report highlights disparities in marijuana arrests
INDIANAPOLIS — A new report that shows significant racial disparity in marijuana arrests may revive the debate over pot penalties in Indiana.
-
Concert series to benefit ministry
It is summer and time for outdoor music. It is also the beginning of First Fridays — a concert series hosted by the local community ministry, Reason 4 Hope.
-
Planners like changes to CVS parking lot
Access to the CVS at 410 S. Main St. in Goshen could soon be easier for those with disabilities following a ruling by the Goshen Plan Commission Tuesday afternoon.
During their meeting Tuesday, Goshen Plan Commission members gave their blessing to a request by CVS Pharmacy and State Permits Inc. for a major change to the CVS Planned Unit Development that seeks to reconfigure the north portion of the parking lot to increase the overall Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility of the site. The final site plan for the PUD was also approved by the commission Tuesday, and the request will now be forwarded on to the Goshen City Council with a favorable recommendation. -
Council won’t fund school sidewalks
GOSHEN — Goshen City Council members voted along party lines Tuesday to defeat a proposal by Goshen Community Schools for a 50-50 cost split between the city and the school corporation to pay for a $125,000 sidewalk expansion project.
-
Millersburg man airlifted from crash scene this morning
A 26-year-old Millersburg man was airlifted to Memorial Hospital of South Bend after he was struck by a car early this morning.
-
Council declines to fund sidewalks near schools
The Goshen City Council voted 4-3 along party lines Tuesday night to defeat a proposal to spend $62,500 on constructing sidewalks near schools in the city.
-
'Experience Michiana' segments to be taped in Goshen
The crew with WNIT program “Experience Michiana” is set to tape segments in Goshen this week. The segments will be broadcast June 27 and 28.
-
State officials warn people to be alert at fairs, festivals
The Indiana Department of Homeland Security and state police are reminding state residents to be alert for safety concerns when attending county fairs and other local festivals.
-
Goshen officials donate former Hawks Building to LaCasa
An agreement between Goshen city government and LaCasa Inc. allowing for the donation of the former Hawks Building to the local non-profit was approved Monday.
-
How to monitor a Facebook Page while out of the office
With the popularity of social media soaring by the day, it is important for online marketers to keep their Facebook page updated regularly, and monitor it daily to answer comments and questions that fans post.
- More Breaking News Headlines
-
Ex-Hit Man's Past Is a Shock to Some Neighbors
Fans: Gandofini 'Put New Jersey on the Map'
Does Future of Human Race Depend on Kansas Mine?
Reining in 'Bad News' Sports Parents
James Gandolfini Dies at Age 51
Fmr. TWA Flight 800 Investigators Want New Probe
Raw: Heat, Spurs Back on Court Ahead of Game 7
Dolce and Gabbana Convicted of Tax Evasion
Paris, Prince Depositions Used in Jackson Trial
Coiffed Cattle Get Their Close-up
In Berlin, Obama Channels Cold War Activism
Police at Patriots Tight End's Home for 2nd Day
Fed Suggests Bond Purchases Could Slow
AP: DOJ Broke Own Rules Seizing Phone Records
Raw: Baby White Rhino Debuts at Australian Zoo
Time Lapse: Rebuilding Bridge Post-collapse
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
