Author: Bernie James

Safety Law News for July 13, 2017

In Arkansas, school resource officers are being trained under a new approach to active shooter incidents in schools.  The “solo engagement” protocol is replacing the past policy of waiting for backup before engaging an active shooter. In Alabama, Shelby County…

Safety Law News for July 6, 2017

In Kansas, officials in Topeka are implementing a new school-based discipline memorandum of understanding that formalizes the collaboration among the school district, Topeka Police Department, Shawnee County Corrections and the Kansas Children’s Service League that operates the county’s juvenile intake…

Safety Law News for June 28, 2017

In Ohio, the Ohio Court of Appeals upheld a trial court ruling that found a 12-year-old delinquent for violating a state law that provides that “No person, with knowledge of its character or content, shall recklessly… [d]irectly sell, deliver, furnish,…

Safety Law News for June 22, 2017

In Florida, the Clay County Public Schools Superintendent sent out a letter alerting parents to television shows and social media that may encourage children to either hurt themselves or commit suicide.  The TV show “13 Reasons Why” and a lesser…

Safety Law News for June 19, 2017

The United States District Court in Connecticut ruled that two school resource officers were not immune from a civil lawsuit for damages for excessive force, assault and battery, and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress for tackling and tasing…

Safety Law News for June 15, 2017

In South Carolina, a Bamberg County Councilman says critics of the SRO program will not silence him or the president of the local Parent Teacher Organization who say they were “appalled” the city was considering eliminating the SRO program, which…

Safety Law News for June 9, 2017

In Kansas, the Shawnee Mission School District is now providing Smith & Wesson semi-automatic assault rifles to its school resource officers as a precaution to prepare for an active shooter situation. In Louisiana, anti-bullying legislation (SB 158) has passed through…

Safety Law News for June 1, 2017

In Minnesota, the U.S. District Court dismissed a lawsuit filed by a St. Paul teacher who sued the school district for injuries sustained in an assault by a student.  The court ruled that the teacher failed to prove his case…

Safety Law News for May 26, 2017

In South Carolina, Bamberg’s police chief is apologizing for remarks he made about eliminating the SRO Program from the Bamberg School District during a heated meeting over the costs of the program.  Parents were not pleased with the comments. In…

Safety Law News for May 23, 2017

In Georgia, a statewide investigation reports 15 percent of school resource officers in Georgia have troubled pasts.  The officers were investigated for things such as excessive force, lying, theft or even sexual misconduct at one of their earlier jobs, but were…