Principal Suspended After Armed Police Drill Goes Awry

The principal whose Winter Haven school captured national attention following an armed police drill on campus last Thursday has officially been suspended.

Jewett Middle School Principal Jacquelyn Moore was suspended by the Polk County School Board Tuesday pending the outcome of an internal investigation into the incident, The Ledger reported.

The incident that led to Moore’s suspension unfolded last Thursday when the Winter Haven Police Department conducted an armed active shooter drill on the campus.

The problem with that drill was the fact students, teachers and parents were not given a heads up and believed they were truly under attack. After all, the officers had their weapons drawn.

Seventh-grader Lauren Marionneaux told Fox News when the officers came into her class, she was in fear for her life.

“We actually thought that someone was going to come in there and kill us,” the station quoted her as saying.

One of the officers was carrying an AR-15 assault rifle, Fox reported.

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While the Winter Haven Police Department has since changed its policy regarding armed drills on populated campuses and so has the school district, Moore could face action for allowing the drill to occur in the first place.

Superintended of Schools Kathryn LeRoy said organizers of the drill demonstrated a “lack of good judgment,” the Ledger quoted her as saying.

The district has also decided that parents should be informed in the future when drills are taking place.

What are your thoughts on this? Should the principal have been suspended? Share your thoughts by commenting below!