Jackson County, Ore. — A shooting at an elementary school in South Carolina injured three. Here, local law enforcement says it’s doing what it can to protect our schools.
That includes efforts launched last fall. In an effort to protect students. Grants Pass School District 7, and the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety partnered together to put armed marshals in schools.
The marshals are retired police officers who are still certified by the state. The marshals don’t wear uniforms, but they are wearing guns, and do have the authority to take down a threat.
The marshals are part time, and paid for by the Department of Public Safety. But students said it’s a price worth paying for.
“I think it’s a good idea to have somebody who’s trained and armed so they’re ready for situations that might happen,” said Ronaldo Gonzalez, Grants Pass High School senior.
In addition to armed marshals in Grants Pass, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office launched a new program last year. Deputies will check in at random times, either in uniform, or plain clothes. The program reaches the 20 schools in the sheriff’s office jurisdiction.
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