NCJ Number
194945
Journal
Campus Safety Journal Volume: 10 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2002 Pages: 12-13,33
Date Published
2002
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes the training and equipment measures adopted by the Baldwin Park School Police Department (California) for addressing an active-shooter event related to school premises and activities.
Abstract
The Baldwin Park Unified School District Police Department operates 7 days a week to provide high visibility to the district's 26 schools. The department is responsible for investigating crimes that occur on school property and then filing cases through the local court system. The department solicited help from a nationally recognized organization that had an established curriculum to train officers for an active shooter event. The course lasted 3 days. An equipment upgrade was also achieved. This included the replacing of 9-mm handguns with modern 40-caliber handguns. The department also purchased 10 0.223 rifles, which can defeat body armor and deliver rounds over great distances accurately. Officers trained in their use carry the rifles in the front passenger compartments of all marked school police cars. A breacher shotgun program is now in the beginning stages of development to train officers for quick access to a room or area if a gunman manages to disable locks during an active shooter event. Every school police officer has been issued a ballistic helmet and ballistic tactical vest. Officers are now able to meet or exceed firepower possessed by suspects, as seen nationwide during school shootings. School officers have been trained in bus-entry procedures in the event of a shooter on a school bus. The department has also developed an intense presentation for teachers and staff to help educate them about their responsibilities during and after an active shooter event.