Greensboro News-Record: School police carry Tasers, told no one (North Carolina)

[Heidi]

Thursday, September 24, 2009

GREENSBORO — Police in Greensboro schools are armed with Tasers for the first time, but school officials were slow to find out.

Tony Scales, the school system’s safety administrator, only learned of the change Wednesday. No official notice from the city was given to Guilford County Schools or the Board of Education.

The issue of Tasers in schools has been a hot topic since the sheriff’s office began arming its school resource officers with them. The issue drew attention again last week when a school-assigned deputy used a Taser on a girl at Ragsdale High. The girl, 15, assaulted two school officials and the deputy, according to the sheriff’s office.

Police Chief Tim Bellamy said his department began arming officers with Tasers in 2007. He said he has always intended to arm all officers with the weapons, including officers assigned to schools.

<snip>

After last week’s incident, Hayes said the school board might need to create a panel to review incidents involving school resource officers.

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[Selatius]

1. Why are there police officers in schools now?

Is Greensboro a hotbed of gang activity, drug trafficking, and high crime rates?

[Broken_Hero]

3. Not sure about Greensboro

but my hometown HS(SE Alaska) got cops in school back in 96, I believe 96 was the first year they had a bonafide cop in school. I know in 95 we had a few incidents of kids bringing in flare guns, pellet guns, and a few incidents involving knives.

I figure having police in schools was pretty common nowadays, at least at the HS level.

[wroberts189]

2. I remember a time the only security in the halls was a Principal and maybe the coach.

And this was deep inner big city. Sure maybe a fight now and then that was broken up in about 30 seconds. And yes ...people took a cig break in the bathrooms but once that principal guy walked in all the butts were in the toilet.

Now we need metal detectors? Police? Tasers? ...Guns? Why ? We had a few crazy kids a decade ago go on deadly rampage?

What is next fully auto assault weapons? A SWAT team office... a jail in the basement?

And what is most telling is how secretive they were about it.

The next story we will hear is about how some kid got tasered 15 times and died... cause he did not have a hall pass.

Forgive my hyperbole but I am not that far off.