Jefferson County Plans More Resource Officers In Schools
Jefferson County law enforcement and education officials announced a plan Thursday to put school resource officers in all 56 county schools.
Less than half of the county’s public schools have resource officers. That means some schools have to share an SRO. For example, the announcement was made at Minor Community School in unincorporated Jefferson County. That school shares an SRO with Minor High School and two other schools according to the school superintendent.
Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale says he hopes to soon have a contract resource officer for Minor Community School and all other schools.
Twelve new resource officers will start training next week, he says. Hale hopes that retired officers will be attracted to the opportunity.
Gov. Kay Ivey has approved the Sentry Program, a voluntary program that would allow educators trained in handling weapons to use them against an intruder in the absence of an officer. Hale says he supports the Second Amendment, but believes placing sworn officers in the schools will make schools safer.
Hale says it’s going to cost an additional $1.2 million to $1.5 million. That cost will be covered by Jefferson County and the county school system, he says.
In addition to the resource officers, the plan also calls for development of threat assessment teams. These teams include sheriff’s department investigators, mental health workers and school officials who can identify troubling behavior in students and develop resources for managing those challenges.
Palestinians say at least five people killed by Israeli gunfire near Gaza aid centers
Palestinian health officials and witnesses say at least five people were killed and others were wounded by Israeli fire as they headed to two aid distribution points in the Gaza Strip.
India (and its kids) are out to conquer the world of chess
Chess is seeing a global resurgence, sparked by The Queen's Gambit and the pandemic impact on leisure time. India is an emerging power player, with 85 grandmasters and intense chess schools for youth.
Colombian Presidential hopeful shot at Bogotá rally
A Colombian Presidential hopeful in critical condition after being shot during a campaign rally in Bogotá on Saturday. The assassination attempt is having a chilling effect in Colombia where security has been backsliding recently.
How a network of women in Latin America transformed safe, self-managed abortions
An underground network of feminists and activists developed new models of care for abortion that eventually helped legalize abortion in countries across Latin America.
NPR readers share stories of love and adversity in honor of Loving Day
June 12th is Loving Day, a holiday that commemorates the Loving v. Virginia case, which allowed interracial marriage in all parts of the U.S. NPR readers share how the case changed their lives.
Chile’s Indigenous fishermen say the salmon industry threatens their way of life
Salmon farming is big business in Chile, and the U.S. is one of its largest markets. Yet the fish are not native, and fishermen say salmon are damaging ecosystems and an Indigenous way of life.
