The Coaster
Thursday, February 2, 2023
No Result
View All Result
  • Browse News by Town
    • Allenhurst
    • Asbury Park
    • Avon
    • Bradley Beach
    • Deal
    • Interlaken
    • Loch Arbour
    • Long Branch
    • Neptune
    • Neptune City
    • Ocean Grove
    • Ocean Township
    • Tinton Falls
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
Subscribe / Renew
  • Browse News by Town
    • Allenhurst
    • Asbury Park
    • Avon
    • Bradley Beach
    • Deal
    • Interlaken
    • Loch Arbour
    • Long Branch
    • Neptune
    • Neptune City
    • Ocean Grove
    • Ocean Township
    • Tinton Falls
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
The Coaster
No Result
View All Result
Home Ocean Township

Specially Trained Armed Police in Ocean Schools in September

by The Coaster Editorial Staff
June 22, 2018
in Ocean Township
2
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare via EmailShare on Twitter

 

By DON STINE

Specially-trained armed police will now be part of the security plan in Ocean Township schools, under a measure approved by the Board of Education on June 19.

The board approved hiring one Special Class III police officer for each of the five schools in the district at an estimated cost of $50,000 per officer.

“The cost will be a mutual shared-services agreement between the school district and the police department,” School Superintendent of Schools James Stefankiewicz.

The Special Class III officers, who will be retired police officers, will carry firearms and receive special training for their new job. The officers cannot have been retired for more than three years and will be specially trained to identify and address the needs of school children.

Stefankiewicz said the new officers are not replacing the existing security measures now in place at schools and he said the officers will only have jurisdiction within the school.

“After the Parkland shooting there has been a lot of discussion about the best way to keep our schools as safe as possible. The board felt having an armed guard in a building rather than minutes away could mean a lot. An armed guard is not a guarantee but certainly a way to shorten response times. Someone will be in the school to respond quickly and hopefully save lives,” he said.

But Stefankiewicz also stressed that the school district also deals with potential security problems by having an aggressive student-counseling service in conjunction with local human services.

“We are taking counseling services very serious. We do not just want to react but prevent it in the first place. It’s not just about putting people with guns in the schools. We are making sure our conflict services are as good as they can be,” he said.

But Stefankiewicz admits that “nothing is 100 percent foolproof” and that the board recognizes that some parents will not be happy with the new security measure. The school board has held open public workshops to discuss safety measures.

“Parents coming to the board meetings seem to be support the idea but some believe putting any guns in school is not the answer,” he said.

He said that a few schools in the area already have this policy in place or are at least looking at it.

The new officers are expected to be on the job at the beginning of the new school year.

“Our goal is to get this up and running as soon as possible but, realistically, it may take a little bit of time. It’s not like there is a big pool of qualified officers out there,” he said.

Related Posts

Neptune City to Consider More Locations for Sale of Cannabis

Ocean Township Amends Cannabis Ordinance

February 1, 2023
Husband Indicted for Killing Wife, Leaving Body on Roadside in Ocean

Husband Indicted for Killing Wife, Leaving Body on Roadside in Ocean

January 31, 2023

OCEAN TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION SPECIAL EXECUTIVE SESSION MEETING

January 20, 2023
School Board Election Error

School Board Election Error

January 23, 2023
In Ocean Township Close Race for School Board

In Ocean Officials Give Green Light to Firehouse Plans

January 18, 2023
Stabbing Incident at Asbury Park High School

Ocean Township Police Make 4 Catalytic Converter Arrests

January 16, 2023

Trending This Week

neptune police car

Neptune Police Make Burglary, Robbery Arrest

February 1, 2023
Developer ‘Cares Deeply About Boardwalk’ As Iconic Asbury Park Buildings Deteriorate

Developer ‘Cares Deeply About Boardwalk’ As Iconic Asbury Park Buildings Deteriorate

January 25, 2023

St. Patrick’s Day Committee Names Sammy Boyd Grand Marshal

January 30, 2023
Husband Indicted for Killing Wife, Leaving Body on Roadside in Ocean

Husband Indicted for Killing Wife, Leaving Body on Roadside in Ocean

January 31, 2023

Advertise Online with The Coaster

Advertise on The Coaster to reach countless new customers for your local business.

START ADVERTISING TODAY

E-mail Newsletter

Sign up to get a free weekly newsletter to your inbox.

Subscribe

Contact Us

The Coaster
1011 Main St
Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Phone: 732-775-3010
FAX: 732-775-8345
editor@thecoaster.net

Email Newsletter »

All Articles

Search Our Site

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 The New Coaster, LLC. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Browse News by Town
    • Allenhurst
    • Asbury Park
    • Avon
    • Bradley Beach
    • Deal
    • Interlaken
    • Loch Arbour
    • Long Branch
    • Neptune
    • Neptune City
    • Ocean Grove
    • Ocean Township
    • Tinton Falls
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
Subscribe / Renew

© 2023 The New Coaster, LLC. All rights reserved.