- April 19, 2024
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The School Board voted 4-1 to allow student resource deputies to carry Tasers on campus.
Continuing the debate from the Sept. 20 workshop, the Flagler County School Board voted 4-1, Oct. 4, to allow school resource deputies to carry stun guns, called Tasers, in Flagler County schools.
Tasers were taken out of local schools in 2007, following a verbal agreement with the Sheriff’s Office, after a Taser was deployed on an ESE, or exceptional education, student.
“Certainly this is an emotional decision,” Buddy Taylor Principal Winnie Oden said, as she introduced the item.
She was right: Parties from each side of the philosophical aisle took the podium to relate their histories as parents, school workers or law-enforcement officers, using each as windows into their stances for or against.
Mostly, though, the board was resolved. John Fischer, Trevor Tucker, Sue Dickinson and Superintendent Janet Valentine were in favor, and said they trusted deputies to use their tools responsibly.
Colleen Conklin was against, citing health risks, as well a fear of in-school culture change. If we bring Tasers back, aren’t we just telling students that we expect them to act like animals? she asked.
Board Vice Chairman Andy Dance was the only ambivalent member. In ways, he said, he was as uncomfortable with resource deputies carrying Tasers as he was with them not carrying the weapons.
He made a motion to allow Tasers, with a stipulation that the superintendent form a committee to iron out more detailed use and training policies, and that her list be shared with the Sheriff’s Office. David O’Brien, the sheriff’s acting chief manager, agreed to meet with Valentine.
The motion passed 4-1.
“These are tools that are used as a last resource,” Dance said, in closing, “and the (deputies) are there as specialists.” He also suggested that Valentine’s committee might be able to better illustrate to deputies how to differentiate between everyday students and those in special-education programs.
Before a decision was reached, Conklin cited an Amnesty International study which showed 334 people killed by Tasers since 2001. Of the 334 people, 299 were unarmed. One was a 17-year-old.
“My feeling is that we’re playing with fire,” she said.
FLAGLER NAACP SAYS …
Linda Sharpe Haywood, Flagler County NAACP president, in a recent release said: “Tasers do not have a place in Flagler County high schools. They do not replace the training that all deputies are required to have to protect themselves and others.
“Adequately trained, law-enforcement officers should be able to physically take down adults,” she continued. “With the understanding that the use of more substantial force may be necessary in some cases, it should never be used in a school setting.
“Medically, there are numerous reasons why Tasers could be detrimental,” Haywood said. “Without knowing an individual’s health history, deputies would be taking a great risk in using a Taser on a student. Cardiac and neurological side effects may occur, causing extreme illness or possibly death.
“There must be a more acceptable way to deal with disruptive students. After all, they are still children,” she said.
Haywood’s husband was killed on duty in 2004 as a law-enforcement officer. Her son is also an officer.
Sheriff Donald Fleming recently stated that he supports deputies carrying Tasers in schools, following an altercation in August, in which a deputy was head-butted by a student at Matanzas High School.
THE STATE SAYS …
According to Florida statute, every law enforcement, correction or correction probation officer authorized to use a dart-firing stun gun must complete annual training courses on the weapon’s operation.
The firing of a stun gun must involve an arrest or custodial situation during which the subject of an arrest escalates resistance to an officer, has the apparent ability to physically threaten the officer or others or is preparing/attempting to flee.
