Arizona takes significant steps to enhance school safety by allocating $15 million for armed school resource officers amid rising threats.
At a Glance
- State schools chief Tom Horne announces $15 million in carryover funds for additional armed officers in schools.
- Funds can also be used for school counselors and social workers.
- The Arizona Department of Education seeks to expedite the grant process.
- Schools can apply for the funding starting October 21.
- Nearly 200 threats were reported from January to early September 2024.
Arizona Allocates $15 Million for Armed School Resource Officers
Arizona’s Department of Education, responding to an alarming rise in school threats, will allocate $15 million to place more armed school resource officers on campuses starting in January. The funds, part of the School Safety Program, will also be available for school counselors and social workers. This move emphasizes the state’s commitment to safeguarding students and staff amid growing safety concerns.
The Arizona Department of Administration has granted a waiver request to allow $15 million in School Safety Program funding to be made available to schools statewide to support campus safety efforts.https://t.co/xG6cefaNaI pic.twitter.com/4cQgkLnqRt
— ArizonaDOA (@ArizonaDOA) September 30, 2024
Superintendent Tom Horne, leading this initiative, underscores the gravity of the situation. Horne stresses the necessity of the funding, citing incidents that have disrupted school environments. “These numbers are distressing and show that we absolutely must do everything possible to protect students, educators, and staff on school campuses. This added funding is vital to accomplishing that goal.”
Urgency to Expedite Funding
The Department of Education is pushing for a waiver to allow schools to apply for funding by October 21, expediting the grant process. The State Board of Education aims to distribute funds by December, with officers on campus by January. This quick turnaround is crucial as recent statistics highlight an increase in threats, with over 130 threats reported in September 2024 alone.
“One of my biggest fears is that an armed maniac gets on a school campus and causes a devastating tragedy to happen. There has been a notable increase in threats to campuses in Arizona and nationwide, and that makes it more important than ever to do all we can to provide armed officers at schools,” said Tom Horne.
The urgency is underscored by the high number of threats, including 88 shooting or weapons threats, 8 bomb threats, and 8 general threats reported from January to September 2024. In response, law enforcement has made nine arrests in recent weeks, demonstrating the serious nature of these threats.
Increasing Threat Landscape
The Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center reported 177 school threats from January 1 to September 3, 2024, intensifying the call for enhanced security measures. In the last month alone, threats have surged, with a 156% increase compared to the same period in 2023. This dramatic rise in threats underpins the decision to allocate substantial resources to bolster security measures in schools.
“This funding is crucial to ensure we are doing everything possible to protect our children and education professionals,” said Horne. By swiftly implementing these measures, Arizona aims to curb the threat landscape and restore a sense of safety in educational institutions.
With the funds coming from the state’s School Safety Program carryover, the allocation will not require additional tax burdens on residents. This practical approach enables quick action without lengthy legislative processes, ensuring that the enhancements are in place as soon as possible.
Sources:
- https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/education-department-allocating-15m-to-put-more-cops-arizona-schools/75-2679a65f-7258-44eb-8748-d95a896795da
- https://www.azed.gov/communications/horne-use-additional-funds-add-more-armed-officers-schools
- https://www.thecentersquare.com/arizona/article_85ba39fa-7c28-11ef-b6ce-d3140c0378cb.html
- https://www.azfamily.com/2024/09/26/arizona-education-chief-looks-add-more-armed-officers-schools-following-increase-false-threats/
- https://www.kvoa.com/news/state-schools-chief-announces-funding-for-armed-officers-on-school-campuses/article_f8c0ce0a-7c23-11ef-a3b5-e765d69a253d.html
- https://hoodline.com/2024/09/arizona-invests-15-million-for-added-security-placing-armed-officers-in-schools-amid-rising-threats/
- https://grandcanyontimes.com/stories/664567768-arizona-plans-more-armed-officers-in-schools-amid-rising-threat-levels
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/arizona-education-chief-looks-to-add-more-armed-officers-in-schools/ar-AA1rgCSk
- https://www.kvoa.com/video/more-funding-for-armed-police-officers-at-az-schools-is-on-its-way/video_ea58be78-9dce-553d-acf0-38d42c773c24.html