The National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) responded to school safety recommendations announced by the National Rifle Association (NRA). December 21, 2012 By TheCountyPressEditor www.BayCountyPress.com
School-based policing org. NASRO responds to NRA recommendations Dec, 21, 2012 – Hoover, Ala. – The National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) today responded to school safety recommendations announced by the National Rifle Association (NRA). QUOTES FROM MR. MO CANADY, EXEC. DIR., NASRO & FORMER SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER “A well-trained, armed, school-based police officer is one of the best defenses against an active shooter in a school. NASRO agrees that placing school-based police officers in every school that wants one would greatly enhance the safety of children, if such officers are selected carefully and properly trained.” “School-based policing requires specialized training not covered in most law enforcement academies. Because school resource officers are much more than armed guards, they need training in teaching, counseling and the special skills required to act as a law enforcement officer in a school setting. In addition, we recommend that all school resource officers receive special training to assure that their responses to an active shooter will be safe and effective.” Q&A Q: Does NASRO agree that every school that wants one should have an armed police officer? A: Yes, when local communities deem it necessary. A well-trained, armed, school resource officer (SRO) is one of the best defenses against an active shooter. NASRO provides specialized training to school-based police officers on how to properly respond to an active shooter in a sound way. Q: Do police officers who work at schools need any special training? A: Yes. SROs are much more than armed guards. They need training in teaching, counseling and the special skills required to act as a law enforcement officer in a school setting. In addition, we recommend that all school-based police officers receive special training to assure that responses to an active shooter will be safe and effective. Q: Is a police officer who doesn’t have SRO training better than no police officer? A: Learning to work as an SRO and to respond to an active shooter on campus requires a significant amount of specialized training. Schools that desire an immediate increase in campus security might temporarily place on campus law enforcement officers who have not had specialized SRO training. NASRO recommends that in such cases, such officers receive SRO training — or be replaced by officers who have the training — as soon as possible. Q: Should anyone else, other than a police officer, be armed on school property (e.g. school staff, community volunteers, etc. who are not law enforcement officers)? A: No. NASRO believes that only a fully-trained law enforcement officer should carry a firearm on school property. In addition, law enforcement officers assigned permanently to schools should receive specialized SRO training as soon as possible. Q: The NRA called on “every parent, every teacher, every school administrator and every law enforcement officer in this country” to join it in its National School Shield Program. Will NASRO offer its expertise to the NRA’s program? A: NASRO agrees that every school should have a school safety team that includes school-based police officers (where available), school administrators, teachers, cafeteria staff, janitorial staff, counselors, nurses, parents and even, where appropriate, students. NASRO has resources that can help schools create such teams and develop effective security plans. NASRO is willing to provide these resources to any group that wishes to help improve school security.
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