SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) -- Sioux Falls Police Chief Matt Burns likes the concept of the armed sentinel program, but not where an armed cop is already present.
"I gotta tell you, where there are SRO's in a school, I would not necessarily be in favor of it." Chief Burns tells Kelo.com News. SRO is short hand for school resource officer.
Burns believes that Sioux Falls has a sufficient force of SRO's, at least, until more schools are built.
The department has 14 full time school cops with two supervisors.
"It far outnumbers the SRO programs in the cities around us that are far larger than Sioux Falls."
Burns says not only do the officers provide security, they get to know the students and the students will talk to them about issues, including those that might impact the school. The officers also train school personnel to handle emergency situations.
Chief Burns says each school resource officer is fully trained and prepared to engage an active school shooter, if necessary.