Making our schools safe
School districts and law-enforcement agencies across Central Florida have been working tirelessly to ensure that our schools are the safest they have ever been, and that the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland last February does not happen again. This initiative is the result of a new law that takes effect this new school year. Many of the law’s requirements already were being implemented by our local law-enforcement agencies, but the law will bring more consistency and awareness on matters of safety and security.
While the type of security or presence of law-enforcement officers at our local schools might vary from county to county, there is no doubt security has significantly increased across the state. In Osceola County, Sheriff Russ Gibson has ensured that every school, including charter schools, has a sworn deputy sheriff on campus for the beginning of the school year. The sheriff ’s office has worked through the summer, alongside the School District of Osceola County, to make sure threat assessments were completed and any security issues were addressed.
The agency has created a division dedicated to school safety, assigning a captain to oversee the division and adding three sergeants. Across the state of Florida, law-enforcement agencies have committed to improving safety in schools and ensuring that our most precious resources, our children, are protected at all times.
While great improvements toward safety and security have been made, protecting our children, school staff and the community is the responsibility of every single one of us. Law enforcement and the community need to partner in helping to keep our children safe by being vigilant and ready to report any activity or information that could pose a threat to the safety of others.
People may ask themselves, when should I report something to law enforcement, if there is not clear action or a threat? The reality is when people develop legitimate concerns about the safety and security of others based on observations they have made or information they have received, they should report it to law enforcement. The willingness to share important information in a timely manner could have a significant impact on preventing incidents from occurring and improving the safety and quality of life in our schools and our communities. In a school setting, children are sometimes unwilling to come forward with information that should be reported to law enforcement because of peer pressure or their perception of law enforcement. An important role of a sworn law-enforcement officer in the schools is to interact with students and foster relationships with them that are based on trust and community. Fostering these relationships with our students gives them a sense of responsibility for their community and inclusion in the role of keeping our schools and communities safe.
Parents and caretakers should take an active role in the activities their children may be involved in and information they may be exposed to by speaking to students often about their school day and school-related activities, monitoring or being aware of their student’s internet activity, and monitoring their activity on smart devices and social media. We encourage parents and caretakers to speak to their children about the importance of safety and the critical role they can play by reporting information to law enforcement or school staff.
There are many ways that information can be shared with law enforcement, and individuals can always remain anonymous. Besides calling 911 for emergencies, individuals can contact an agency’s non-emergency phone line — Crimeline or SpeakOut at 800-423-TIPS (8477) — or talk to their school resource officer. Some agencies can even be reached through certain social media sites.
Law enforcement and those dedicated to the safety of our schools are excited for this school year and look forward to providing an enriching, safe and positive learning environment for our children. It will take all of us to be vigilant and work together to ensure that our schools are always safe and our community strong.