Chesapeake School Board revises its security policies

Division to have armed school security officers

CHESAPEAKE — The Chesapeake School Board approved revised policies Monday night that will allow the division to arm school security officers.

The move came about a month after a planning meeting in which board members expressed an interest in exploring the option.

School security officers are employed by the division, as opposed to school resource officers, who are officers employed by the police department.

School officials said part of the reason for the change is due to the police department not having enough officers to provide SRO coverage for all the division’s schools. The new rules will allow Chesapeake to have armed security officers in elementary schools.

“This would help to decrease the response time if there was an active threat at an elementary school,” said division spokesman Chris Vail.

School security officers would have to meet additional eligibility and training requirements mandated by the state, including having been an active law enforcement officer within the 10 years immediately prior to being hired by the division. Other requirements include that the candidate have retired or resigned in “good standing,” and that he or she complete and maintain training and certification standards.

Before Monday’s vote, several Chesapeake teachers spoke to The Pilot about their concerns about the new policy, saying it was a “fear reaction” and could have unintended consequences. They say additional guns in schools increase the likelihood of accidental discharges or a student obtaining the gun. They also have concerns that an inappropriate response by an armed security officer could lead to the unwarranted shooting of students with special needs or minority students. Some noted that money would be better spent on mental health initiatives.

Chesapeake officials noted that some other area school divisions, including Virginia Beach, also have policies allowing them to arm security officers.