Officials say armed staff adds another layer of protection at school

BRADFORD COUNTY, Fla. (WCJB) - Following the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill funding programs that train school staff to use a firearm to protect students.

In Bradford County, sheriff’s officials say each “guardian” goes through extensive training, a psychological evaluation and a background check.

Officials said they already had a meeting scheduled with school leadership on Feb. 15, 2018, the day after that mass shooting. But say after the violence, they scrapped all of their plans to begin work on the guardian program.

Deputy Tyler Oliver, a School Resource Deputy and lead firearm instructor, said teachers know their schools and hallways well, and are especially useful since they’re on campus throughout the day.

“Nobody knows these school’s better than teachers that work here, they’re in out of these hallways everyday,” Oliver said. “They’re the first line of defense.”

Bradford County Schools already have School Resource Deputies, including Oliver, but officials say having school staff trained and equipped with firearms adds another layer of protection.

Oliver said in most situations, staff members could be the first to encounter a threat on campus, which could reduce response time.

A 2019 law directed state funds to participating sheriff’s offices to cover screening and training costs for each guardian.

Guardians are anonymous by design, but said off camera that they participate to protect students.

The current group of new guardians in Bradford and Union counties is in the training phase now.

Anyone interested in joining the program can contact their local sheriff’s office or superintendent for more information, officials said.

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