EAST BRUNSWICK – The East Brunswick Board of Education has authorized the East Brunswick Police Department to provide an armed officer at every school in the township during the school day.
“The security and safety of our students and staff is the board’s first priority. For nearly three years, the board and administration have been enhancing security throughout the district, with some changes visible and others not,” board President Todd Simmens said.
“The new security plan is the next step in the district’s security plan. The board had a regular meeting previously scheduled for Feb. 15. The events in Parkland, Florida, prompted the board to continue its security and safety discussion at that meeting,” he said.
Simmens was referring to the killing of 17 teenagers and students at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School by a gunman on Feb. 14.
Simmens said board members discussed security and safety issues during a closed session meeting on Feb. 15.
Following that discussion, board members unanimously passed a resolution to engage the police department to have armed police officers at each township school throughout the day to ensure the safety of students and staff members, Superintendent of Schools Victor Valeski said.
The police officers will supplement the school district’s existing staff of 71 security officers, all of whom are retired police officers, to further enhance the security at all board facilities during the school year, according to the board.
“The events in Parkland certainly prompted the board to continue its safety and security discussion. … I cannot speak for my eight colleagues as to what factor Parkland had in their decision. For me, safety and security has been an evolving process with (the Feb. 15) decision as the next step,” Simmens said.
The district has 11 schools. Simmens said East Brunswick High School and Churchill Junior High School have had an armed School Resource Officer.
Police Chief James Conroy said, “The East Brunswick Police Department, in cooperation with the board, will be assisting the school security staff by providing police officers at our township public schools.
“It is the goal of the police department and the board to safeguard our students, staff and residents at our schools on a daily basis to promote a safe and secure learning environment.
“We look forward to continuing our long-standing relationship with the board to have a positive impact on our township. The police department implores anyone who learns of a potential safety threat against our community to immediately notify police,” Conroy said.
Public Information Officer Lt. Sean Goggins said the police department has 83 officers.
Simmens said the changes at the schools will occur over the next week or so.
“This is the most unpleasant decision I can remember our board ever considering; however, today in 2018, it was necessary. We have been enhancing security for several years under the leadership of board member and Safety Committee Chair Laurie Lachs,” he said.
In a related matter, the police department has created the “Community CrimeCam Program” which is a voluntary community safety initiative that allows business owners and residents to partner with police in the fight against crime, according to police.
Residents and business owners will be able to register their surveillance system with police and become an asset in solving crimes, according to police.
Contact Vashti Harris a vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.
