Officers from several law enforcement departments prepared to work together for a large-scale active shooter drill at Miami Central Senior High, a practice that has become both common and controversial. While district officials and law enforcement tout these school safety efforts, there is growing evidence that these drills are not effective, the Miami Herald reports. The cafeteria, which was the staging area for the drill, was filled with participants, including students, staff and officers from the Miami-Dade Schools Police, the City of Miami Police Department, the Miami-Dade County Police Department, the North Miami Police Department, and even U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. In minutes, more than 50 armed officers, including members of the Miami-Dade priority response team – decked out with helmets, bulletproof vests, and large guns, would begin the simulation. All of the students participating in the summer drill had been informed about the drill and agreed to participate.
Miami-Dade School District Superintendent Jose Dotres attended the drill Thursday and touted the district’s efforts regarding school safety. However, some experts believe that large-scale drills that aim to simulate a real-life situation can do more harm than good. These kinds of drills can often traumatize participants, says Scott Woitaszewski, professor and chair of the Department of Counseling & School Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. He also chairs the School Safety and Crisis Response Committee, a national committee that advises schools on how best to respond to security threats. A report on armed assailant drills in schools endorsed by the National Association of School Psychologists and the National Association of School Resource Officers suggests that lockdown drills that don’t involve simulations are the best practice. The report also says that drills that mimic a real experience can be traumatizing. Woitaszewski notes the complexity of having armed officers on school grounds. While it may enhance safety for some, he acknowledges instances where their presence did not stop shootings. He also recognizes that certain students, particularly those of color from communities with low law enforcement trust, may feel more unsafe with an armed officer on campus.
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