If we have learned anything from the events in Ferguson, it is that militarization of a police force is a BAD idea. In that vein, I bring you the next bad idea in community policing, AR-15 rifles in the hands of Compton Unified School District school police officers. No, really!
Also, by the way, Compton USD is not the first to do this. "By my calculation, we are the ninth school district in the Southern California region to receive approval from the school board," said Compton Unified School District Police Chief William Wu.
From the Compton Democratic Club's Facebook page:
From the
Compton School Police Officers Association response to that post:
Dear, Compton Democratic Club
Compton School Police Officers are not planning to attack the Galaxy of Teachers and Students.
Currently, the following School Districts authorize their Police Officers to deploy these weapons; Los Angeles School PD, Baldwin Park School PD, Santa Ana School PD, Fontana School PD, San Bernandino School PD.
If we encounter an active mass murderer on campus with a rifle or body armor, our officers may not adequately be prepared to stop that suspect. School Police Officers will undergo a training course, followed by a shooting proficiency test on a firing range and a written exam. The rifles are designed for increased accuracy and use rifled ammunition than can pierce body armor. The safety of our Students, Staff, and Parents are very important to us.
Compton is 65% Latino and 33% African American. Last year, a group of parents and students
filed a federal lawsuit against the Compton school district alleging a pattern of racial profiling and anti-Latino violence.
I repeat, this will not end well.