TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Marjory Stoneman Douglas Safety Commission held its second day of meetings Thursday in Tallahassee.
The commission has already approved a measure that has proven to be controversial.
- Parkland panel recommends allowing some teachers to carry guns
- Meetings continued Thursday in Tallahassee
- PREVIOUSLY:
It voted 13-1 to recommend expanding the School Guardian Program.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, the commission's chairman, pushed the measure.
The commission was formed after 17 students and teachers were killed in the February mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Thursday morning, panel members said part of the problem was the policy.
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office policy stated deputies may enter the building to engage an active shooter — not that they HAD to.
The panel blasted that as being inconsistent and against standard practice.
"There has to be the appropriate policy in place, and the appropriate training in place so that people will know that if an active shooter shows up that law enforcement will run to the threat," said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. "But let me underscore that when the active shooter arrives and you're dialing 911, it's too late, so there has to be a lot of layers of support."
The panel also talked a lot about the guardian program in schools.
It has already decided to recommend arming teachers as part of the program, but Thursday morning they also decided to ask lawmakers for more.
The panel says if a school board wants to have the guardian program, the sheriff should be required to help train the guardians and be part of implementing it.
Panel members hope to have a full report for legislators by the end of Thursday.