an guard
A limited forum for student expression // Volume 106 // Issue Six // 105 7th St. SW Puyallup, Wash, 98371 // March 2, 2018
SECURITY CAMERAS ENFORCE SAFETY
With a heightened awareness of security issues, one solution comes in the form of increased video cameras around campus. What led to this new tool in keeping students and staff safe? B Y
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H A L E Y K E I Z U R C H I E F
uyallup High School has recently installed new security cameras. They will increase the safety of the school and help security guards and administrators do their jobs, says security officer Jim Jenkins PHS is one of the last schools in the district to get an upgrade and they are not completely done. They were able to afford the changes due to a grant received by the district a couple of years ago, for a camera and software upgrade. Jenkins explains how the new cameras differ from the old ones. “The biggest thing is that there are more of them and they are higher quality. The old ones, the quality was not great, they went in and out, they were not stable and they kept dropping or going out. The new ones have better quality, are more stable, there are more of them and they have a greater field of vision,” Jenkins said. Vice Principal Lorraine Hirakawa explains that the new cameras will be able to zoom in, rotate and the files are easier to download, too.
M E G A N L Y N N | V A N G U A R D
The footage taken by the old cameras was also only able to be seen in Jenkin’s office, after the technology broke in the main office years ago, says Jenkins. The new cameras can be viewed in more places. “Setting up the cameras has been a long process, a several-week process. They had to be put up in conjunction with an electrician; it was a wiring issue. In a couple weeks, we will be able to see everything. [Camera footage]
supposed to be here. Identification is a big deal because if we can get a picture of someone, get specific details about their face and identify who they are, we can track them down, whether they are [at PHS] or have left. We can gather as much information as possible,” Jenkins said. The topic of school shootings hit headlines and social media Feb. 14, after 17 students were killed at a Florida high school. Nikolas Cruz, who had been expelled from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School the year before, entered the school and began shooting in classrooms. Cruz then dropped his weapons and fled the scene. He was arrested later that day and taken into custody. Cruz confessed to the murders Feb. 15 but police are still investigating his motives. This incident was the 18th school shooting this year and the sixth in which at least one person died. Although causes and motives have varied per school and cameras would not prevent someone from entering the school hallways, the videography could lessen the damage once a suspicious person LOR R A I N E H I R A K AWA came into the school and impact the way the V IC E P R I NC I PA L school is able to respond,” Hirakawa said. With higher quality and more cameras, the office staff and administrators can monitor the progress of anyone within the school, Hirakawa explains. Just being able to see what is going on and spot something suspicious is a huge gamechanger. “[As security officers], we can be in one spot and “It takes a lot of practice, figuring out which know where camera shows which area. Once we suspicious get up to speed, they will allow us to activity is at. see more of the building and it will be ...WE CAN HAVE ONE OFFICER Or we can easier to get evidence about who did have one TRACK AND FIND SOMEONE what,” Hirakawa said. officer track While all cameras increase visibility, WHILE THE OTHER MANS THE and find the most notable is the one by the CAMERA. someone while front door. J I M J E N K I NS the other mans “The number one camera is the one SEC U R I T Y OF F IC E R the camera. As right in front of the office because we I walk through can see the front door and everyone the school, I that comes in. There is also one by the can only see what is in my field of vision but these back door in the atrium. We can see both easily and cameras are force multipliers,” Jenkins said. it allows the office staff to see better,” Hirakawa Students are slowly learning and becoming aware said. of the new system. The new cameras would also increase the “We are happy to have this additional feature school’s ability to deal with an intruder or handle a to help provide safety to our students,” Hirakawa school shooting incident. said. “We are able to see people that are not will now be accessed by administrators, too, which is a big deal. It will also be networked so people downtown and the police can see,” Jenkins said. The cameras will improve Hirakawa’s capabilities as an administrator, although there is still a lot to learn, she says.
...THEY WILL ALLOW US TO SEE MORE OF THE BUILDING AND IT WILL BE EASIER TO GET EVIDENCE OF WHO DID WHAT.