Should Enfield Keep Armed Guards in its Public Schools?

Enfield parents will have the chance to voice their opinions on the controversial issue of armed guards in schools at a special public hearing and presentation at 6:30 Thursday night.

The town is considering renewing the school security officer program with Safe Havens — a contract that’s been in place since last fall.

Presently, there are 23 armed officers — retired police and military personnel — guarding its 14 schools, according to WFSB. The security program was put in place in the wake of the December 2012 massacre at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown that left 20 students and six administrators dead at the hands of a lone gunman.

Enfield Town Manager Matt Coppler, told WFSB, “I think those individuals, the men and women that make up the school security program, made the program what it is and we believe it’s the best in the country and I think parents, teachers, and administrators are very happy with what we’ve done so far.”

The meeting at the JFK Middle School auditorium will include the Enfield Town Council and Board of Education,with a presentation by Mike Dorn of Safe Havens International. The council will hold a public hearing following the presentation, however, no votes will be taken, according to a notice posted by the Enfield Town Clerk.

The full WFSB story can be found here.