Expert weights in on metal detector implementation in schools

(KBSI) – An expert with the National Association for School Resource Officers reminds community of the added benefit weapon detectors bring to schools.

Mac Hardy is Director of Operations for NASRO, a non-profit organization founded in 1991, with the number one goal being to keep schools safe.

He says, “It comes along with a lot of planning on how we’re going to use that tool effectively to keep our schools safe.”

Following the shooting incident that took place at Charleston High School last Tuesday, Hardy is enlightening southeast communities about safety. He says, “We do have experience in these areas, and we hear a lot of different things about keeping our campuses safe. We hear about metal detectors and that one step that’s tool that could be used.”

Since the beginning of the 2022-2023 academic year, NASRO has found 24 news stories of thwarted metal detectors, including a case where an AR-15 was discovered on a campus. So, he says it’s important to note that the SRO’s placed inside of schools are the best officers for these situations.

“They can respond independently, and they can respond with a purpose, an admission to make things as safe as possible because in these situations we know that not minutes, but seconds count.” Said Hardy.

Another addition to the enforcement of safety is the importance of every school working to mitigate the risk, Harty notes a groundbreaking system for violence prevention called Project Unite, which involves school leaders and administrators.

“It’s uniting those individuals along with law enforcement to come together as a staple and be trained on school safety form school safety experts. And we do these courses across the nation also. So, we’re not only training school resource officers but we’re also training the school safety team.”

The organization’s SRO’s have been trained in every state, including 7 different countries. All using federal guidelines and evidence-based strategies.

“I’d like to think that we have a fingerprint all across the nation in K-12 schools. Not only high school or middle schools, but elementary schools.” Hardy assured.