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If Schools Can't Afford Police, Put in 'Cop Shops'?

Many district budgets don't have room for special school resource officers (SROs). Should administrators make room at schools instead for regular police officers?

Converting a school classroom or storage room into a police department office—is that a good way to make schools more secure? Since the economic recession arrived in 2009, many school districts have cut school resource officers (SROs), leaving school builldings without day-in, day-out  police presence, according to the Star Tribune.  But the mass-shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT, brought calls for more armed security, including police, at schools. One school district, in Jordan, MN, has opted to find space in its buildings to house some of the regular functions of the city's police department, the Associated Press reported.  

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Potential Gun Reforms: Stricter Background Checks and Greater Access to Mental Health Records

Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek: “The severely mentally ill should never have access to guns. We have an epidemic of untreated mental illness in the U.S. and right here in Minnesota.”

The following was released by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office: Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek, the Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association, Hennepin County Judge Jay Quam and a coalition of community partners that included advocates for the mentally ill and state lawmakers gathered in St. Paul Wednesday to discuss potential reforms to address concerns about the role of mental illness and extreme gun violence.  Among the proposed reforms: strengthen existing gun background check laws, provide greater access to mental health records for law enforcement and address gaps in providing services and resources to Minnesotans who live with untreated mental illness.  “We have an access problem,” said Sheriff Stanek, “The severely mentally ill …

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Dick's Sporting Goods Takes Some Rifles Off the Shelves Nationwide

Retailer's stores include several Twin Cities locations, including Minnetonka.

The Dick's Sporting Goods chain said Tuesday that it is suspending sales of some rifles nationwide because of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, USA Today is reporting. Dick's Sporting Goods has more than 500 stores in 44 states with Twin Cities locations including Minnetonka, Richfield, Maple Grove, Burnsville, Roseville and Woodbury.  In a statement, the Pittsburgh-based sporting goods retailer said today, "We are extremely saddened by the unspeakable tragedy that occurred last week in Newtown, CT, and our hearts go out to the victims and their families, and to the entire community. Out of respect for the victims and their families, during this time of national mourning we have removed all guns from sale and from display in our …

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