Are our children safe on Long Island? A Roundtable Discussion

Community members to include internet radio broadcasters, current and retired law enforcement, active shooter training professionals and a mental health professional gathered at the JVK Studios of WLINY Internet Radio yesterday to discuss "Are our children safe on Long Island?" "I've been speaking about the issue of being prepared and arming law enforcement personnel to protect our schools for over three years now", said retired New York City Police Officer Edward Munoz. Munoz is currently with the Private Investigation and Security firm of 11 Management Security. "The senseless murder of 17 students and faculty this week at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida set into motion the roundtable we have organized today", said David Zere. Munoz and Zere host the weekly webcast, Everything Matters with Ed Munoz and David Zere on WLINY Internet Radio. "The fact of the matter is that our children are not safe on Long Island", said Munoz. "While I know that the school districts are doing everything in their power to offer protection to our children, what they are doing is not enough.", said Mathew Seifer a Licensed Private Investigator, Registered Armed Guard, Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Certified Instructor, and Technical Surveillance Countermeasure Specialist with Radius Investigations of Hauppauge, New York. Seifer's partner and retired Suffolk County Police Sergeant Don Longo offered his knowledge as to why children, as well as adults need to be trained and have a full understanding as what to do if you find yourself in a position of dealing with an emergency such as an active shooter.

Manny Vilar, Vice President, Chief Administration Officer and Director of the New York State Police Sergeants Association (www.pbanys.org) spoke of the shortage of New York State Park Police. A shortage so dangerous to the public safety that is current legislation being offered to merge the Park Police with the New York State Troopers. "There are less than 250 New York State Park Police Officers", said Vilar. "Considering the amount of parks throughout the entire state of New York it's just wrong", he continued.

Mary Calamia, a mental health professional discussed the current issue of mental health and the privacy restraints that result in shootings such as we have seen across the country. While guns truly cause death the issue of the shooters mental health certainly come into play. The sad thing is it can come into play when it is too late and the damage has been done.

The bottom line is that we as a society truly have to follow the concept of see something, say something. Schools need to realize and understand the expulsion and disciplinary action are not enough when dealing with a potential "shooter". "The New York State Assembly needs to listen and consider the option of allowing Retired Law Enforcement Officers or returning military veterans the ability to carry a firearm while on school property, with the intent of protecting our students in the event of an attack", says Munoz. The reality of a potential attack is real on Long Island and the school districts need to offer training to students and faculty as to how to handle such an attack. The issue is that everyone is so afraid off offending someone, lawsuits and being politically correct that they are putting the lives of students and faculty at risk.

Radius Investigations will offer a free seminar entitled, "How to Survive an Active Shooter" on February 23, 2018 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at their offices in Hauppauge, NY. For information you can call 631-351-6473 or online at https://prvteye.com/upcoming-active-shooter-seminars/. JVK Media Group will broadcast the seminar live at https://www.facebook.com/WLINYLIVE/.