Armed officers in Enfield schools prove beneficial during BB gun incident
ENFIELD CT December 2, 2024 — The controversial decision to hire armed security officers in schools has proven to be beneficial, Enfield’s superintendent said, after a student recently brought a lifelike firearm to school, leading to a nearly immediate response from law enforcement and the student’s arrest.
Enfield High School went into lockdown Nov. 20 after a student heard another student racking the slide of a handgun in a school bathroom. Racking is a term for pulling back the slide of a firearm to load a round in the chamber.
The student who heard what he thought was a real gun immediately reported it to staff, who then informed one of the armed officers at the school.
While the weapon turned out to be a BB gun, school officials said the incident showed the swift action armed officers are capable of when called upon in the incident that resulted in the arrest of 18-year-old Martin Williams.
“From the district’s perspective, we were extremely happy with the response time. Having them in the building drastically reduced the length of time in terms of a response,” Superintendent Steven Moccio said. “That immediate response was incredibly helpful for us to be able to take action quick.”
Arming non-police officers in the district was met with rebuke earlier this year by some teachers and members of the Board of Education. The school board ultimately voted 5-3 in favor of the policy in February.
Board of Education Chairwoman Charlotte Riley, who voted in favor of hiring armed security officers in schools, declined to comment. Police Chief Alaric Fox and Board of Education Vice Chairman Peter Jonaitis, who voted against the policy, did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Mocchio said educators and police met Tuesday to discuss what was done correctly and what could potentially have been done better during the incident.
“We always look for opportunities to grow from experiences,” he said, adding that “the communication between the police department and the school district is excellent.”
Having come from a school district that already had armed security, Moccio said that the practice is what he’s familiar with and he’s comfortable, further stressing the importance of building relationships between officers and students and staff.
“They need to be a member of the community. They need to part of the school community,” he said. “Kids and staff have to know they are safe when they come into school, otherwise there is no education that can occur.”
By August, the school district hired eight armed security officers, with the goal of 12 total to have enough to cover shifts during vacations or sick time.
