In a significant move to bolster security measures at public schools, the Mobile County Public School System in Alabama has decided to introduce a dozen armed law enforcement officers to certain campuses.
The decision, backed by unanimous approval from the school board, marks a shift in approach toward safeguarding students and faculty members.
The Mobile County Public School System, the largest school system in Alabama, allocated approximately $1.8 million annually to fund the employment of 12 deputies from the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office.
This landmark decision was formalized through a memorandum of understanding, subsequently endorsed by the Mobile County Commission. The agreement allows these sheriff’s deputies to serve full time within the school system, stationed at various high schools.
The rationale behind this move, according to school officials, is to enhance on-site security and response times.
According to Commissioner Connie Hudson, having sworn officers present on school premises provides an additional layer of security.
“A sheriff’s deputy is a sworn officer, and so I think it adds another level,” Commissioner Hudson said. “The security officers would have to call the sheriff’s department to get the deputies on site, so it’s having someone on site who can potentially, if necessary, react quicker.”
Mobile County Commissioner Randell Dueitt further hoped that retired law enforcement officers, still within the prime of their careers, might be attracted to this role.
Dueitt highlighted that such individuals, usually in their late 40s to early 50s, could supplement their pensions by working in schools and simultaneously contribute their expertise to campus safety.
Additionally, the director of Safety and Security for Mobile County Public Schools, Andy Gatewood, acknowledged that logistical challenges, such as hiring deputies and procuring vehicles, need to be addressed before the program’s implementation.
According to Gatewood, deputies will be integrated into schools as soon as they have received training through the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), located in Hoover.
The training emphasizes responding to active shooter situations and allows deputies to familiarize themselves with local high school, middle and elementary schools.
“I want them to learn their campuses inside and out,” Gatewood explained. “With that many campuses, and if we have an issue in a classroom or a cafeteria or gymnasium, they will be able to know exactly where to go and when to get there.”
The armed deputies will join the existing cadre of unarmed student resource officers (SROs) who have been part of the school system’s security framework since 2007. The unarmed SROs, stationed within schools, focus on cultivating relationships with students and assisting in security matters, as stated by Gatewood.
Mobile County’s approach to armed law enforcement officers contrasts with other school systems in Alabama. In 2018, Baldwin County Schools became one of the first in the state to introduce armed SROs after the tragic Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida. The recent decision in Mobile County is seen as a progression in their commitment to school safety.
Johnny Hatcher, a school board member, shared his belief that having deputies present at as many schools as possible is the most logical strategy to secure school buildings effectively.
“I’m a fan of immediate action,” he stated, adding that the deputies have access to high-power weaponry and protective gear, enabling them to respond effectively in challenging situations.
As of now, the initiative is being viewed as a pilot program that could pave the way for the introduction of additional armed deputies in middle or elementary schools, as indicated by school board President Sherry Dillihay-McDade.
With these changes, the Mobile County Public School System aims to fortify its commitment to the safety and well-being of its students and educators.
