Author: Bernie James

Safety Law News for May 25, 2018

In New York, the Warren County Supervisors have discovered that it will cost $2,500 per year to have each of the Sheriff’s Office school resource officers covered by the county’s liability insurance.  County leaders agreed to have the county absorb…

Safety Law News for May 22, 2018

In Colorado, officials in the Denver Public Schools are exploring a new policy of creating an in-house school district police department.  Under the plan, the goal is to select and train armed police officers with power to arrest students, but…

Safety Law News for May 10, 2018

In Missouri, a non-sworn security officer in the St. Louis County schools was arrested and charged with assault for violating school district policy when he used a Taser on an unarmed middle-school student.  School district policy of the Normandy Schools…

Safety Law News for May 8, 2018

In New York, the mayor and the police chief of the City of Syracuse say sworn school resource officers will stay in Syracuse schools.  The announcement came in response to a request from the city’s police union to remove the…

Safety Law News for May 4, 2018

In Vermont, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that the actions of a high school student, who was charged with plotting to shoot up the high school, did not meet the legal definition of an “attempt” under Vermont law.  The student…

Safety Law News for May 1, 2018

In Florida, officials in Polk County plan to hire 90 armed “School Safety Guardians” to work in the Polk County Schools.  The safety guardian is not a law enforcement job and pays $30,000 a year plus benefits.  Officials selected this…

Safety Law News for April 19, 2018

In Ohio, school officials will have to notify parents of children who are absent-without-excuse within two hours of the start of each school day under Senate Bill 82.  The legislation is known as the Alianna Alert, was named in memory…

Safety Law News for April 13, 2018

Across the United States, less than two months since the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, at least 10 U.S. states have proposed spending significantly more to bolster school safety.   In Louisiana, the Livingston Parish Sheriff is…

Safety Law News for April 10, 2018

In South Carolina, the Oconee County Sheriff presented a campus safety proposal to the School District of Oconee County Board that would arm as many as 50 school employees.  Under the policy, the focus will be on arming principals, assistant…

Safety Law News for April 6, 2018

In Florida, the Alachua City Commission has approved funds to upgrade the firearms used by its school resource officers.  The Sig Sauer MCX rifle had been selected as most suitable for the school environment.  The new rifles will be in…