Vernon mayor wants armed door monitors at schools

BY ERIKA NORTON
VERNON — Vernon Township Mayor Harry Shortway plans to ask the Township Council for a resolution asking the township Board of Education to revaluate its policy of having unarmed security guards in the township schools.
In the wake of the deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida, municipal and school officials across the country are re-examining their own school districts to see how they can make their own schools safer, including Vernon Township.
What occured in Florida is all too common, Vernon Mayor Harry Shortway said during last week's townshipo council meeting, which is why he says is proposing the idea of allowing the Vernon school door monitors, many of which are retired police officers, to possess firearms.
According to Shortway, those door monitors are highly trained, and by state law may carry a firearm. Currently, the Board of Education’s policy is that they not carry.
“There is only one way to stop a monster with a firearm and that is a good guy with a firearm,” Shortway said. “Deadly force is necessary when a law enforcement officer uses with the purpose of causing, or which the officer knows to create a substantial risk of causing, death or serious bodily harm.
“It is a necessary option to employ to prevent by threat or use to stop or lessen the loss of life caused by these demented individuals who kill our children.”
Other NJ districts Other school districts in New Jersey are also considering similar security measures. In Bergen County, Mahwah Mayor Bill Laforet is calling for armed officers to be placed in all township schools. And in Middlesex County, it has already been decided that all 11 schools in the East Brunswick school district will now have armed police officers stationed outside all entrances.
In Essex County, all schools in the Nutley school district were closed on Feb. 16 after a high schooler posted an alarming video online. The incident reportedly has a number of parents asking the township and the school district to assign armed guards to the schools.