Author: Bernie James

Safety Law News for October 24 2018

In Virginia, the Fauquier County School Board voted unanimously to allow school security officers to carry guns. Virginia law allows school boards to hire armed civilian security guards as long as they are retired law-enforcement officers or have at least…

Safety Law News for October 16th

In Georgia, the Georgia Court of Appeals held that a student, who was called by the school principal to the principal’s office, was not in “custody” when he admitted to choking student, and thus, a police officer was not required…

Safety Law News for October 12, 2018

In Virginia, the school safety task force for the Chesterfield County Public Schools has proposed placing officers in all schools in the county, increasing funding for mental health staff, and the distribution of annual transparency reports from both police and…

Safety Law News for October 10, 2018

In Arkansas, the Governor tasked the Arkansas School Safety Commission to produce two reports — the first due July 1 and the second Nov. 30 — to look at mental health, school security plans, and how schools partner with local…

Safety News for October 4th, 2018

In Illinois, a school superintendent in Hutsonville went through nine months of police academy training to become a law enforcement officer so she could carry a concealed weapon at school and respond to an active shooter if necessary — something…

Safety Law News for September 14th, 2018

In Illinois, the deputy inspector general has issued a Report declaring “a disconnect” between Chicago police and Chicago schools.  CPS and Chicago Police do not have an interagency agreement.  There are also no hiring guidelines; no specialized training about dealing…

Safety Law News for September 11, 2018

In Florida, the legislature has refused to allow $58 million that was allocated to train school staff to act as armed guardians to be used instead to hire more campus police officers.  Most school districts in Florida made it clear…

Safety Law News for September 7, 2018

In Massachusetts, a model memorandum of understanding governing the role of school resource officers in Massachusetts schools was released by the Massachusetts Attorney General, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and…

Safety Law News for September 4, 2018

In New York, the Supreme Court, Appellate Division, ruled that educators were not liable to a child who was injured when students were “rough housing” in the hallway, resulting in the victim being grabbed and thrown on his head.  The…

Safety Law News for August 30, 2018

In Washington State, the Governor and the state superintendent issue statements declaring their opposition to a proposal by the U.S. Department of Education to arm teachers.   In Florida, residents of Lake County approved a special school safety tax.  The…