Putnam County adds security during final week of classes

Students in Putnam County will see extra armed security guards this week.

On the heels of school shootings, the Sheriff’s Office will permanently relocate all command center substations to schools.

Mellon Elementary already has 29 deputies working from their location.

Interlachen serves as the second base for the sheriff’s substation.

Deputies are planning the final move to Browning Pearce Elementary.

Sheriff Gator DeLoach tells Action News Jax, he hopes the school board will incorporate the Guardian program into the county’s school safety plan.

We first told you about the plan as part of the Marjory Stoneman High School Public Safety Act.

It would allow select personnel to be armed if they passed certain criteria.

Sheriff DeLoach elaborated on that criteria, stating, “A background investigation. A comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, and then a rigorous training program.”

When asked about the possible challenges of additional guns on school campuses, the sheriff said, “You know there’s always going to be some risk, but I think we can do everything we can through proper training to help mitigate that risk.”

Grandparent Patricia Douglas said, “I think they need to be trained. I don’t think they need to give just anyone a gun.”

The most recent study from the National Center for Education statistics found a 12% increase in the presence of armed school guards on campuses nationally from 2005 to 2016.

Sheriff DeLoach said, “It’s my hope that our students will have an opportunity to interact with some of our law enforcement deputies.”

Cox Media Group