Many parents who are sending their kids back to school this year are worried about their safety. One school district in the Plum Bourough of Pennsylvania is doing something to help aleviate their anxiety. The Plum Borough School district is doing more than just telling kids to get under their desks in the event of an armed attack on their classrooms, they’re giving them an important added layer of protection. Superintendent Hyland has taken the bold move of placing armed officers in every school in his district. Hyland’s goal is to give the kids in his district a chance at surviving a potential mass shooting in his district.

Local new WPXI explains-According to local The Plum School Board recently hired a fourth school resource officer, who used to be a police officer for the city of New Kensington.

The superintendent welcomed him on social media and said the district’s number one goal is keeping schools safe.

On his Twitter account, Dr.Brendan Hyland tweeted his support for keeping armed officers in all of their schools district buildings this year and welcomed their latest armed officer who will be patroling one of their schools.

Last year, before the decision was made to place armed officers in every school, WPXI spoke with Dr. Hyland to help understand his decision to add armed officers to the school district.

One year in, Plum School District officials say they’re very happy with the decision made to create an internal police department.

Beginning last fall, the district hired five police officers and are currently looking to add a sixth.

The move was made to improve security and allow officers much faster response times in an emergency situation.

Dr. Brendan Hyland explained his decision, “We now have someone in the building, and so if we can cut down on that response time in the event that something happens, we have a little bit better chance than we did.”

The offficers will report to 25-year veteran of the local police force, Supervisor Tim Hanna, who told WPXI, “It’s a lot easier to be proactive, because we have a confined area.” 

WPXI reports on the Plum Borough school district’s announcement:

 

The district police supervisor told our news partners at TribLIVE.com all their officers have a good relationship with staff and students.

What do you think about armed officers in schools? Will having armed officers in the schools help to discourage future school shooters? Will parents feel safer sending their kids to school, knowing that someone on the premises is an armed and trained law enforcement officer? Tell us what you think in the comment section below.

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