'They Are My Kids Too' Anne Arundel Officer Pledges To School

PASADENA, MD — After President Trump and millions of worried parents called a Florida sheriff's deputy a coward for not going into a high school where a shooter was firing, and arming teachers took center stage among strategies to keep students safe, an Anne Arundel County Police officer pledged he would do whatever was needed to save the kids at his school. Threats of violence aimed at Northeast High School in Pasadena Sunday night drew extra officers to school buildings in the county this week.

But Northeast's school resource officer, Cpl. McAdams, said students and parents shouldn't worry, because he's got this. The officer took to Facebook to share some thoughts after the turmoil of the Feb. 14 school shooting in Parkland, Florida, which killed 17 students and teachers,

Now retired Broward County Sheriff's deputy Scot Peterson was accused of waiting outside Marjory Stoneman High School as a lone gunman shot student after student; he spoke out for the first time on Monday insisting that he is not a coward. Rather, Peterson said he and a security officer ran to the school building but thought that the gunshots were coming from outside the campus.

McAdams said in a private Facebook post Friday that his department shared that he had been pondering the Florida officer's reaction. As a police officer his oath is to protect the children of the school he's assigned to.

"They are not only your kids, they are my kids too," McAdams said. "I will do whatever I need to do to negate any threat that comes our way! I will counsel them, I will guide them and I will help them in any way I can. I WILL NOT WAIT TO REACT!!!! I will take whatever action that is needed to keep them safe!!!!

"I’m very proud of “My Kids” and will do whatever I can to keep them and the staff of the school safe!!!! I am part of the Northeast family!!!! The incident last week and subsequent reaction by their SRO has made me think and this is my feeling from my heart and soul," McAdams wrote.

In light of the Florida tragedy, threats to schools, and increasing violence children see in the media, the department said it was appropriate to share the officer's Facebook post.

"We believe that Cpl. McAdams beautifully put into words how all of us here at the Anne Arundel County Police Department feel about keeping "OUR" kids safe. Well said Cpl. McAdams! We thank you, and all of our School Resources Officers for being a mentor, role model, counselor, and protector," the department said.

On Sunday night Anne Arundel County Public Schools officials tweeted that they were aware of an online threat that implied violence at Northeast. "Police are aggressively investigating leads in the case. If you have any information that could assist in this case, please call police," the district said.

School opened as normal Monday and additional police will be at schools throughout the week.

"Please know that we take every report of every threat seriously, and work with our partners in law enforcement to fully investigate these matters," the school system says. "Again, additional police presence planned for schools this week is only a precaution."

Photo via Anne Arundel County Police