Active shooters have captured more of the public’s attention in K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and other public sites. While I have always emphasized not being alarmist and keeping context when discussing school shootings, it is prudent to include active shooter scenarios in training for law enforcement officials and their school partners. In Shepherdsville, Kentucky, […]
Former private school teacher: FBI Most Wanted for child porn
A 30-year-old former private school teacher and camp counselor joined the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list for allegedly producing and possessing child pornography, according to a Foxnews.com story. Eric Justin Toth, aka “David Bussone,” filled the slot of the now-deceased Al Qaeda terrorist leader Usama bin Laden. Federal officials said their investigation into Toth began […]
NC teacher charged for prescription drug sales at high school
A 31-year-old high school English teacher in Gaston, North Carolina, was fired from her job and arrested for allegedly running a prescription drug ring targeting students at the school, according to a March 30 Gaston Gazette news story. The School Resource Officer (SRO) investigated following an anonymous tip. Police say the teacher allegedly provided a […]
Phone threats trigger heightened security, parent communications
Threats by irate students, former students, parents, disgruntled current or former employees and others are requiring school administrators to take quick action to heighten security. They also create a necessity for schools to have crisis communications plans to get accurate information out quickly to parents, media and the school-community. Phoned threats target local schools Two […]
Easter Sunday reinforces value of faith, family and friends
As we pass through yet another Easter Sunday, allow the reflections and prayers of the day to reinforce the value of faith, family and friends. They are essential for keeping all of us safe, secure and sound in our hearts, minds, bodies and communities. Peace be with you. Ken Trump Visit School Security Blog at: www.schoolsecurityblog.com […]
Cafeteria worker saved lives at Chardon High School shooting
Cherie Reed, a cafeteria staff member at Chardon High School, comforted students and may have saved lives thanks to her quick thinking and action as shooter T.J. Lane fired gunshots, killing three students and wounding two others in the school’s cafeteria on Feb. 27 in Chardon, Ohio. Reed and student Travis Carter, a 16-year-old junior, […]
After-school girls fight presents challenges to school safety
An after-school fight involving girls from a New Jersey high school ended with one student suffering from a knife wound and school officials in a defensive mode, according to a news story on the Bayonne High School incident. The school’s principal reportedly was surprised by the incident, saying there was no prior history of problems […]
California school shooting suspect: Warning signs or not?
The founder of the California Christian university where a shooter killed seven people and wounded three others says the shooting suspect had not shown any signs of violence, according to an Associated Press story on the school shooting published on Saturday. But the same article also said, “Numerous administrators have said Goh grew angry during […]
Beware of school safety analysts’ double-talk, mixed messages
School shootings are down, they are nothing new and they are not that common. But please fund my research proposal on school shootings, pay me thousands of dollars to teach you my model for assessing threats of shootings and hire my fellow consultant for a few thousand bucks to show you how many dozen guns he can conceal […]
Lawyers, media talk school safety even when educators don’t
School officials may be talking less about school safety today, but lawyers and the media certainly are not silent on the topic. Many school security directors, school police chiefs and school safety consultants will tell you (at least privately) that getting school boards, administrators and staff to consistently focus proactively on school safety is increasingly […]