Lt. Russ Thomas and Deputy Hope Carlilse talked with the Troy Rotary Club about the importance of school safety. 

Carlisle serves as one of two School Resource Officers for Pike County. She’s based in Banks – and Sgt. Tim Walker is in Goshen – but Carlilse said SROs have duties at all county schools and will respond to an emergency at any school in the county. 

Carlisle said school security is extremely important in this day and age. She said the PCSO uses a variety of measures designed to prevent active shooters on local campuses. She said the PCSO uses the Emergent 3 (E3) app – which is an emergency management tool – to help with school safety. The E3 app can be used to issue customizable alerts, design emergency plans and incorporates smart maps and real-time chat. The E3 app lets the PCSO and school system administrators prepare for any emergency scenario and to get the information out to first responders and parents immediately. 

Carlisle said that there are a variety of prevention measures in place at all schools, including metal detectors and controlled access. 

Carlisle said if there is a situation which develops at any school, the PCSO’s SWAT team is called to assist. 

The team is led by Lt. Russ Thomas , in addition to being the team leader, Thomas also serves as an instructor at the Basic Tactical Operators Course at Fort McClellan in Anniston. Thomas said the team consists of 10 members that are trained in how to respond to active shooter emergencies, which he said are unpredictable and evolve rapidly. 

Thomas said the team looks at past school shootings to determine what flaws and strengths the emergency response plans had. He said by examining past incidents, the team can help prepare schools for possible future threats.