Fort Lee School Superintendent Wants Police In Tactical Gear In Every Building
FORT LEE, N.J. (CBSNewYork) - The Newtown massacre changed everything and now Fort Lee school superintendent Steven Engravalle wants highly trained police in every building, and that's not all.
"If I had it in my way, they would be in tactical gear," he told WCBS 880 reporter Sean Adams. "My reasoning is, A: I think the kids will think it's cool and they'll have a good time with it. but B: I want people to know that we mean business, and this Fort Lee is not the place to come if you want to commit a crime."
Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich said he is willing to listen to the superintendent's proposal, but he has some reservations.
Fort Lee School Superintendent Wants Police In Tactical Gear In Every Building
"I just wouldn't want to turn our public school district into a military camp. I think there are other options," he told Adams. "Just the mere appearance of a SWAT figure or someone in tactical gear in a public school, I think, you know, it's troublesome to me."
"Perhaps, maybe myself, my thinking, I have to adjust. I'm just hopeful that the initiatives that are in place and will be in place will suffice," he added.
The mayor wants to hire two new highly trained school resource officers, have patrols conduct random walk-throughs, and he wants to continue undercover operations that were stepped up after Newtown.
The topic will be open to the public in an upcoming town hall forum in about two weeks.
How do you think the schools should be secured? Share your ideas in the comments section below.
