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Hamilton County Schools Heightening Security

183 views · Published 17 December 2012 · 2:27 · Indexed 17 October 2026

Channel: WTVC NewsChannel 9 · 2012 · News & Politics

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by Alyssa Spirato  Something like Friday's tragedy in Connecticut makes people think about the possibility of gun violence at their child's school. Shots were fired twice in the past 3-weeks, at different Hamilton County Schools. It happened at Friday night basketball games, and now Hamilton County school officials say they're cracking down.A metal detector at Brainerd High School sounds to alert school officials that someone could have a dangerous weapon. But it's the only one in the whole district.Superintendent Rick Smith and other school officials know one metal detector isn't enough. They say they want to put a heavier emphasis on law enforcement."What we're asking our law enforcement officers to do is to really sweep those parking lots. If people are in the parking lot, and not in the gym watching the game, they don't need to be there," says Smith.The news of heightened security comes after reports of shots fired outside 2 local high schools within one week of each other. The first near Brainerd High School during a basketball game against Howard High School. Then a week later near Tyner Academy when they faced Howard."It's not a situation to where we're trying to have just an overabundance of police. But we feel like it's necessary right now to ensure everybody's safety," says Smith.Which is welcome news for many parents and former students, especially after watching the events in Connecticut."If it's to help the kids and bring the kids together, then they need a little protection," says Roberta Ellis."I don't think anything can be over the top. I really don't. If you think about the parents that lost their children today, I'm sure if we had more heightened security in our schools, maybe this tragedy could have been prevented today," says Harriett Hart.Hart feels safety's slowly drifting away. Especially when it comes to schools."Oh my God. I felt so shocked. I couldn't believe it. I mean everytime you turn around somebody is shooting somewhere in the malls, at the schools," says Hart.Superintendent Smith says they use to have 10 officers at every high profile game,  but couldn't say exactly how many more officers will be in attendance.

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