“you can be an spo and not be armed”
What is so difficult for some people to understand? Many of the kids at that school are very high-value targets to bad people, and therefore are protected by armed guards wherever they go.
These parents ARE NOT going to just drop their kids off at the same place every day and leave them at the mercy of some nut off the street with a 38 Special.
The First Amendment permits the media to basically publish whatever they want - it DOES NOT require us to believe all of it - especially when it’s sheer lunacy and serves a political agenda.
...and finally, even if the school were willing to leave their kids TOTALLY UNPROTECTED (except for the times when a president has kids enrolled), would they really announce that to the world, via the Washington Post?
http://theambientvoices.blogspot.com/2012/05/ronald-security-sidwell-friends-school.html
see #5 below
General Order 308.07 effective Septemeber 28, 1993
3. The term “special police officer,” is any person who is commissioned pursuant to the provisions of D.C. Code, § 4-114 (1981) and other regulations which have been approved pursuant to this act, and who may be authorized to carry a weapon.
D. Special Police Officers.
1. Special police officers are privately commissioned police officers with full arrest powers within an area or premises which the officer has been employed to protect. The commission is conditional and is required to be renewed each year.
2. Special police officers may be appointed by the Mayor for duty in connection with the property of or under the charge of a corporation or individual requesting the appointment. Special police officers shall be strictly confined in their authority to the particular place or property which they are commissioned to protect.
3. Commissions issued to special police officers shall specify the following:
a. The particular place or property they are commissioned to protect (this information is normally kept in the form of a contract list which is available for inspection at the Security Officers Management Branch);
b. Any waiver of the uniform requirement;
c. Firearm authorization status; and
d. In the case of DCMR Title 6-A, Chapter 11, Section 1101.2, any requirement for storage or special provisions for transportation of firearms or other dangerous weapons.
4. Special police officers are normally in uniform as required by DCMR Title 6-A, Chapter 11, Section 1109, however, upon request a uniform waiver may be granted.
5. Special police officers may be authorized to bear firearms, however, they must meet additional requirements which includes completing an annual firearms training course.
6. The holder of a special police officer’s commission is not authorized to take police action on public space, except when in fresh pursuit from an authorized location. The holder of a special police officer’s commission may not take police action on private property, unless their employing agency has contracted with the owner of the private property to render security related services. Violations may result in the revocation of both the agency’s license and special police officer’s commission.
7. Special police officers are explicitly prohibited from engaging in roving patrols on public space. However, officers may travel upon public space to get from one job site to another and the most direct route must be taken. Any deviations of armed special police officers traveling between job sites may subject the officer to arrest for firearms violations and the revocation of their commission.
8. No person shall be appointed as a special police officer pursuant to D.C. Code §4- 114, and DCMR Title 6-A, Chapter 11, unless they meet the following requirements:
a. Have reached the age of twenty-one (21) years;
b. Be a citizen of the United States;
c. Be of good moral character;
d. Be approved for appointment by the Chief of Police.