If you want to see my friend and colleague, Chuck Hibbert, turn three shades of red and have steam coming out of his ears, just be nearby when a school shooting occurs and a school official tells the media: “This was an isolated incident.” Chuck’s tongue-in-cheek response rolls off his lips without hesitation: “Yes, […]
Blog Archives
Educators are our Very-First Responders
In the post-Columbine era, we have trained school administrators and crisis teams to plan, train, and drilll closely with first-responders. I have always been an advocate for school resource officers (SROs), other local law enforcement, fire fighters, and emergency medical service personnel. The Deer Creek Middle School shooting this week reminds us, however, that critical school incidents can […]
A Stranger is in Your School: Does Anyone Know What to Do?
“Good morning. How may I help you?” This is one of the most powerful phrases any adult responsible for child safety can say to maintain a safe school. It is also one that is used the least by school staff. A February 24th Associated Press article entitled, “Police: Colo. gunman entered the school earlier,” reported […]
School Emergency Preparedness: A Quote to Live By
By all accounts, the school and police response at Tuesday’s shooting at Deer Creek Middle School in Littleton, Colorado, reflected their planning and preparedness efforts. This was heard time and time again in media interviews. It was quite evident to those of us who advise school boards, superintendents, and school staff on school crisis planning, […]
Deer Creek Middle School Shooting Has a “Textbook” School Crisis Response
It is hard to say anything “good” about a school shooting. We all know there is nothing truly good about another shooting at a school. As someone who has spent 25+ years of my life training and consulting with educators and first responders to develop meaningful crisis plans, it is in my DNA to first think […]
Why School Security Fails
Three reasons why school security fails: “It can’t happen here.” “We can’t afford it.” “We don’t have the time to do all that.” Submitted by: Jack Martin, President of The Martin Group and retired Chief of School Police, Indianapolis Public Schools Ken Trump Visit School Security Blog at: http://www.schoolsecurityblog.com
School Police Departments and SRO Programs: An Analysis
Three veteran school police and security administrators, in independent interviews this past week, each revealed three common threads of critical elements for successful school police and/or School Resource Officer (SRO) programs: Selecting the right officer: The officer must want to work in schools. There must be a “good fit” for the officer and the school. The […]
School Resource Officers (SROs): Training, Selection, and Communication are Keys
Curt Lavarello has over 24 years experience in the field of school-based policing. It doesn’t take him long to identify the top three critical elements of a successful School Resource Officer (SRO) program: Complete agency commitment to the program from the chief/sheriff and throughout all areas of the agency; The selection and training of the right persons to […]
School Police and Security Staffing: School Security Expert, Chuck Hibbert
Yesterday’s post focused on school police departments. Today, we take a look at school police and staffing in smaller and mid-sized school districts. Chuck Hibbert is the president of Hibbert Safe School Consulting in Indianapolis, Indiana, and a consultant to National School Safety and Security Services. He retired after 21 years of service overseeing school police officers and security services in MSD […]
School Police Departments: Training, Support, and the Right Officer
Jack Martin knows the right school police officer with the proper training and support from school administrators can make a difference in protecting our nation’s schools. He also knows potential failure factors are countless. Retired School Police Chief Brings Credentials, Experienced Perspective Jack Martin retired after serving 12 years as Supervisor of Security and Chief of […]