The uniformed officers will be on normal patrol, so the service will not cost the district anything extra, district spokeswoman Cissy Bowman said.
"We are very fortunate to have a positive working partnership with the Mt. Lebanon Police Department and look forward to this increased presence in our schools," superintendent Timothy Steinhauer said.
The walk-throughs come as part of a district-wide review of safety and security procedures, he said.
"As always, our priority is to maintain a safe school environment for our students and staff," Mr. Steinhauer said.
Following the Newtown, Conn. shootings in mid-December, the superintendent immediately launched a review of the district's safety and security procedures, processes and training, Ms. Bowman said.
The committee conducting the review will meet at the end of the month to decide if any other changes are necessary, she said.
Police to begin unannounced, random walk-throughs of Mt. Lebanon schools
Update January 17, 2013 9:15 AM Dr. Steinhauer's email to parents
Update January 17, 2013 9:15 AM Dr. Steinhauer's email to parents
20 comments:
If they take a cameraman with them when they tour the high school, it'll free Dr. Steinhauer up so he can concentrate on academic stuff like Parents concerns about TERC.
This is what I didn't understand about the outcry from the left at what the NRA proposed (an armed guard at every school).
The school district has for years funded an SRO (Student Resource Officer) which is simply an uniformed police officer.
In fact, it was such a bad a idea from the NRA that President Obama included incentives for funding SROs in his 23 point executive order plan!
The way you stop a crazy gunman intent on killing people isn't by putting up a "Gun-Free Zone" signs.
I know this is a touchy topic given the recent tragedy. However, I do agree with this step by the school district and the police department.
Maybe we can encourage the FBI to start doing walk-throughs of the administration offices. I mean, as long as we're all onboard for fighting crime..
While the district and police dept. are to be applauded for attempting to protect our kids is this a real answer.
What are the odds that an officer will happen to be in the right place, at the right time to thwart an event?
Plus could it actually slow down response time should an event actually occur?
Let's say the officer is randomly checking Foster and something occurs at Jefferson or Lincoln.
He must then say run down several stairways, race to his car and drive to the other school. Wasting precious minutes that could have been saved were he already on patrol in his vehicle and able to respond immediately.
Would this be better alternative, I don't know?
Get several staffers in each building trained with firearms and making it known there is the capability to respond quickly at each and every building.
This is a tough issue and this is not an attempt to mock the districts/PDs idea. Just wondering if there is a better one.
Why not metal detectors at every school ?
A better answer is mandatory firearms for every resident, more concealed carry permits and keeping kids off anti-depressants. Everyone keeps ignoring the fact that both the Virginia Tech killer and the lanza kid in Newtown were medicated.
While the idea of any more school shootings is abhorrent, this action places us one step closer to a police state. Remember Nazi Germany?
What a shame that our state shut down all the mental health facilities years ago. What a shame that we don't do more to discourage bullying. What a shame that we don't do unto others as we would have done to us?
P.S. The 6:39 AM post about fighting crime in the administrative offices is a hoot...and also a sad commentary.
Here's why this is nothing more than a feel good, knee jerk reaction to a terrible, terrible problem.
"Gunman kills 12, wounds 31 at Fort Hood
NBC News and msnbc.com
An Army psychiatrist who opened fire at Fort Hood, Texas, killing 12 people and wounding 31 others, was shot but captured alive, military officials said late Thursday.
The gunman, identified as Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, was wounded at the scene but was captured alive and was in stable condition, Lt. Gen. Robert W. Cone, commanding general of the Army’s III Corps, said at a press conference late Thursday.
Eleven of the victims died at the scene, military officials said. A 12th died later at a hospital, NBC station KCEN-TV of Waco reported. Cone said that most of those who were shot were military but two were civilians."
What facility has more security, mote check points, more sentries, more MPs and more good guys with guns than a US military base?
If a crazed gunman can get away with an senseless act of violence in such a restricted facility, what will random checks by a lone officer do in our schools?
I wish it were an answer, but I think we're deluding ourselves.
11:28 while I've made a couple of comments here on random walk thrus, they weren't intended to knock the idea, it's actually not a bad one.
Not because it will protect our kids from a maniac, but rather because it will instill in our kids s sense that the officer is their friend, somebody they can feel free to mingle with.
Especially if the officers make a concerted effort to engage the kids, joke with them, talk with them. Much like a neighborhood dad or mom might.
That is of course if the dept. has the manpower to do it.
Giving the chief the officers is more important than dog parks or turf!
“The district has two full-time school police officers and two full-time school security guards,” O‘Toole said. “We also have a number of part-time/substitute guards, and we contract with the USC Township police for some events.
“Our police officers have historically spent most of their time at the high school. In the wake of Newtown, we have expanded our security activities at the middle and elementary schools.” - Tribune Review
USCSD 2012 Millage rate: 25.7180
vs
MTLSD 2012 Millage rate: 27,130
"Mt. Lebanon police officers will begin unannounced, random walk-throughs of schools in the Mt. Lebanon School District, the superintendent told parents in an email Wednesday.
The uniformed officers will be on normal patrol, so the service will not cost the district anything extra, district spokeswoman Cissy Bowman said.
"We are very fortunate to have a positive working partnership with the Mt. Lebanon Police Department and look forward to this increased presence in our schools," superintendent Timothy Steinhauer said." - Post Gazette
I hope this doesn't happen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7ufT_6Kgy0
1:04 You just had to bring dog parks into the discussion? I think I know who you are. Get over it. The dog park idea wasn't on the table as TAXPAYER funded.
Also, for the comment regarding the Army base, soldiers don't walk around base with loaded weapons. It's no different than a regular small town except everyone is wearing the same clothing. Further, that guy had made comments to indicate he had issues. Oh, and the government knew about his affiliation with known terrorist organizations but didn't do anything because they didnt want to be insensitive to muslims. good call there.
isn't it interesting how our superintendant waited until a tragedy somewhere to feel a prompt to worry about school security....the catch is that he plans to fight fire with fire, by introducing armed patrols in school buildings (something that even the president opposes)...this random response to a random (though occasionally plural) criminal or mental health problem is unlikely to be preclude random and irrational acts--- such "walkabouts" by armed guards will only desensitize young children to guns and violence, and accustom them to fear as a default emotion attending school or being in public places....this program is more damaging than helpful....
4:34 the dog park I thought was part of the bond discussion for developing the new field on Cedar, golf course and pool improvements.
At some point taxpayer created or not the municipality will need to spend money on maintaining it. I brought it up only to point out that security for residents and students for me are a priority over recreation. If its a debate finding money to secure a school or install turf, I vote for the security, that as thenonly point.
As for army bases, it's been my observation while on them there are armed soilders around. You're right the general population doesn't walk around armed.
Your claim that it's just like any small town is questionable.
Every base I've visit has a gate one must past thru to gain access To the base and the sentries are armed or one is nearby that is. Plus there are MPs around ready to react promptly.
The point was that this a location with people ready and available to take action and we still had a mass shooting. It wasn't meant to insult the military.
Yes the attacker had issues, so has every shooter including the young adult in NH.
5:44 not sure if I agree it's more damaging than helpful.
I don't think it will guarantee student safety agreed, but getting the kids programmed that Officer Joe or Jill is a normal, caring authority instead of a 'cop' isn't all that bad.
Unfortunately we live in a society that has already desensitized our youth.
Doesn't USC have six schools, 1:57 PM? We have ten schools. The District also reduced contracted security at District events to save $5000 (see item 26 on cost reduction list) to give Timmy his 4% increase.
Elaine
Believe that's true 6 vs 10.
USC has around 4,100 students and projected to fall to <3,900 by 2019.
MTL approximately 5,300 and projected to fall to <4,200 by 2019
The above is from wiki but projections are supposedily from PDE.
If these figures hold true will we need 10 schools?
Correction - PDE projects 4,600 students in MTL in 2019. Still a significant drop.
PDE get their 4,600 number from Mt. Lebanon school district administration. So is 4,600 an accurate number?
4:34 pm you wrote: "Also, for the comment regarding the Army base, soldiers don't walk around base with loaded weapons. It's no different than a regular small town except everyone is wearing the same clothing."
Today's Tribune Review (1/21/13):
"Moon police charged two civilian contractors with bringing drugs onto the 911th Air Force Base.
Air Force security officials stopped a white work van after a gate guard smelled what was suspected to be marijuana on Jan. 7."
Last time I drove through Findleyville, Canonsburg or Washington, PA I don't recollect passing through a gate with guards.
Post a Comment