What’s a School Leader to Do?
Did you know that in 2021 there were more school shootings than in any year since 1999? According to The Crime Report, in 2021 there were 42 acts of gun violence committed on K-12 campuses in this country during school hours. This may not seem like a lot considering the number of schools (131,000) in the United States. However, the number of school shootings will only continue to increase if corrective action isn’t taken.
Fortunately, KD National Force Security (KDNFS) is aware of the increase of school shootings in recent years and is committed to help prevent them in the future.
KDNFS offers School Security Specialists (SSS), which are similar to School Resource Officers (SRO’s). An SRO is a law enforcement officer (member of the local police department) assigned in a community policing capacity to a local educational agency or school campus.
Our School Security Specialists are retired law enforcement officers with extensive experience in both law enforcement and school security. KDNFS has established the highest standard for security professionals working in school environments. To review the KDNFS Standard, visit kdnfs.com/career.
Our SSS become integrated with the entire school community and build positive relationships based on trust and confidence with students and staff. This fosters more open communication between students and our specialists. These relationships with students and staff members are an integral part of the KDNFS school security and safety system.
There are many things school/district leadership can do to help prevent future school shootings. One of the most impactful things is to get the entire school population of students, staff and educators familiar with the phrase, “if you see something, say something.” It is vital that students especially, should be comfortable telling their parents, teachers, SSS and SROs if they see anything that is suspicious or looks out of place.
In a recent University of Florida (UF) study, a team led by education professor and director of the Education Policy Research Center, F. Chris Curran, found that “students who have many interactions with an SRO reported feeling that the officer did contribute to the school’s safety. Students who reported more trust in and comfort talking to SROs also reported feeling safer at school. Curran noted that ‘these findings point to the importance of relationships and respect between SROs and students.’”
There have been numerous incidents where SROs and SSS have prevented potential school shootings and violence. An article published on the National Association of School Resource Officers website in January 2022 detailed one such life-saving incident. In 2018, a seventh-grade student in Arizona told his SRO about a potential school shooting threat. When the SRO was given this information, an investigation began immediately. Pursuant to the investigation, the 12-year-old suspect was arrested on juvenile charges of terroristic threats, disrupting the orderly function of an educational institution and various other crimes. We do not know what would have happened if the young student did not report the threat to the SRO.
Not all students may feel comfortable telling their SSS or SRO about potential threats in their school. However, SSSs and SROs receive training in preventing violence in school environments. In the Oxford High School shooting that took place in Michigan in November of 2021, the SRO helped capture the suspect. The SRO was the first to confront the suspect in the hallway and detain him.
These stories are not isolated incidents; There are plenty of stories just like these where SSS and SROs have helped prevent potential school shootings and violence. These on-site security professionals shave seconds off response times and close critical gaps in school security plans.
It is important for everyone to know and commit to the phrase, “if you see something, say something.” Students must know that telling their SSS or SRO about something suspicious they saw or heard could very well be the action that resulted in lives being saved.
A SSS is a major part of the solution to help prevent potential school shootings and violence. KDNFS’s SSS are committed to reducing risk and improving personal safety. KDNFS has the solution for your school community!
If you are interested in learning more about the KDNFS School Security and Safety System as well as our School Security Specialists, please visit our website, kdnfs.com or call (609) 635-5037 today.
