One school district in Minnesota is taking a unique approach to campus security.
After the Sandy Hook massacre that took the life of 20 first graders and 6 staff members debates have raged across the country concerning how to keep students safe. One small town in Minnesota has foregone all the conflict and decided to take direct action. In Jordan, Minnesota, they have decided that the police department will actually move into the schools with satellite offices. The Associated Press reports that the officers will “conduct some of their daily work from the schools, including taking calls and filling out paperwork, while still going out into the community to patrol or respond to emergencies.” There have not been any problems in the Jordan schools, but when the police chief made the proposal it was met with unanimous approval from both the City Council and the school board. Parents and school administrators seem to back the move as well.
In a letter to school officials Chief Bob Malz said,
These attacks have been going on for years and still no one has provided any hope of relief. Sometimes the best answers come when we stop listening to everyone else and take it upon ourselves to make common sense decisions based on what is right for the safety of our children in our own community. … It’s time for change.
Although both police and school officials agree that this solution may not work for larger districts, Jordan has about 1,800 students and all of the schools are located on the same campus, they feel that having the officers stationed in the schools will make a significant difference for their district. They hope to have the offices set up and officers in place by April.
Do you think moving police officers into satellite offices located in schools will be a real deterrent?
Do you think this is something larger districts should consider to increase campus security?
Photo: AP/Jim Mone