Remembering Mr. Bobby
February 28, 2018
Parish Council discusses proposed health care facility
February 28, 2018
Although some are cautious about making judgements before all the facts are in, local law enforcement executives expressed shock and disgust at reports — verified by the sheriff of Broward County, Fla. — that a school resource officer idled outside a school while a gunman massacred students and staff inside.
All agreed that school resource officers are the first line of defense if there is any problem at a school, and expressed expectations of their officers being up to the task no matter the challenge.
Seventeen people were killed Feb. 14 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.
The incident has intensified debate over how schools should be kept safe, including suggestions of arming teachers. But word that a deputy — since resigned from that agency — remained outside the school during the carnage has caused revulsion.
School resource officers are regularly assigned to schools and are expected to help keep them secure. Terrebonne and Lafourche both have histories of resource officers performing admirable service.
Law enforcement chiefs were adamant, however, in their belief that their own officers are up to the task should an emergency occur. Their expectations are for nothing less than self-sacrifice and courage.
“Very disappointed and disheartened,” was how Lafourche Sheriff Craig Webre described his reaction.
Houma Police Chief Dana Coleman was circumspect.
“It’s hard to express feelings without knowing all of the facts of this case,” Coleman said. “The actions of one deputy should not reflect the character and image of law enforcement as a whole. We all should be praying for strength for those affected by this tragedy in Florida, as well as other tragedies across America.”
Thibodaux Police Chief Bryan Zeringue’s officers do not do school resource work, that is left up to Lafourche deputies at schools within the city limits. Nonetheless, he noted that with schools as with anything else, the key to making for better outcomes is training and more training.
“The question is how much training goes into the SROs,” he said. “The more you do the training the more you know how you have to react. Iet makes a difference when you do that on a regular basis.”
Although his own agency does not handle schools Thibodaux officers had a challenge last year when shots rang out during a Carnival parade, a potentially catastrophic situation, Zeringue said his officers did not let him down.
Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry Larpenter suspected upon first hearing of the shooting that something was awry in terms of security, and was saddened to learn that his instincts were correct.
“I had a sickening feeling in my stomach and I feel badly for the sheriff, because you always blame the top dog,” Larpenter said. “Now this deputy has to live with that. When I became a deputy I know that I took an oath, and what I have done is pray that maybe if something bad were to happen the fact that I was doing my job might help me get into heaven easier.”
Larpenter said his school resource officers are among his very best deputies.
“They have all got a lot of road experience, some of them have experience on SWAT,” Larpenter said. “I’ve got no cowards.”
He praised his officers for being proactive.
“Without a doubt they are trained,” Larpenter said. “They work closely with administration, with the principals. If something going on and a kid is changing they need to know that.”
