Metro Nashville Schools security officer feels ‘left in the dark’ after school safety plan announced
NASHVILLE, Tenn. Aug 7 2022 Metro schools and the police department announced officers will be visible at all elementary schools with officers working overtime each day.
Middle schools will have rotating officers and all 13 comprehensive high schools will have at least two full-time officers.
But a security officer for Metro Schools who wishes to remain anonymous and is not a school resource officer (SRO), tells FOX 17 News they feel left in the dark.
This Metro School security officer says they are the first to respond to any type of incident on school property and says Metro Police officers come to assist once they are needed.
“When you hear about MNPD and Dr. Battle, when you hear about their safety plan, what were your thoughts on that?” asks FOX 17 News’ Amanda Chin.
“It’s a joke,” says the Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) security officer.
The officer says they have not received any communication from their director on meetings or in training when it comes to active shooter situations.
While they receive certification to carry a gun, the officer says the district does not allow them to carry.
“With school shootings, especially Uvalde on the minds of many, how safe do you and other officers feel going back to school on Monday?” asks Chin.
“A lot of us are unease because we are not protected, but we are first to call to protect the children, especially in all the schools,” says the security officer.
This officer is speaking on behalf of co-workers as well who feel the same way.
“What do you wish the school would do to better to prepare you for the school year?” asks Chin.
“I think the school should do more because MNPD is our liaison. We should work with MNPD close together and arm ourselves,” says the security officer.
FOX 17 News asked Metro Schools what the director of the security’s done to help train the security officers and if they plan to change policy to allow them to carry guns.
A spokesperson with MNPS sent FOX 17 News this statement:
Our security plans start with preventing an active shooter situation in the first place by controlling access to school buildings throughout the day and ensuring bad actors can’t get into the building. We have spoken extensively about the investments that have been made over the years and are continuing to be made to do just that.
In the event an active shooter situation does happen, it would be campus staff who institute emergency response protocols such as lockdowns or evacuation and that’s what active shooter drills and training are meant to prepare them for.
The Metro Nashville Police Department would be the first responders to an active shooter and would have command and control of any situation. MNPS Security Officers are not typically assigned to individual campuses during the day and would arrive to provide support, but the first call for response and assistance would be to the Police Department, not MNPS Security, though our security team does receive training on active aggressors through their normal training program.
Chief Drake spoke at the press conference about the actions an officer would take in responding to an active shooter situation. Dr. Battle has communicated the plans for the upcoming school year to all families and staff, including the MNPS Security Department.
