WEST ASHLEY, SC (WCSC) -
Gal Nir, CEO of Scopus Security
Solutions, says Adam Lanza was able to murder 20 children and six adults partly
because law enforcement couldn't get to him.
"There needs to be a more
reasonable and professional way to deal with those kinds of activities is to
have a system and that system also includes human ability to respond in the
case of an active shooter enter the building."
Scopus Security Solutions
designs custom-made safety plans for schools based on their campus, building,
and community. It created an "active shooter" drill for Addlestone
Hebrew Academy in January.
"Where to meet the law
enforcement, what kind of information they would need, blueprints and other
information," says Nir.
Nir says school districts
must work with all the agencies involved during a crisis, from the police department
to the first responders to the SWAT team. He says working with all these groups
in a seamless way takes practice.
"Fire drills are a little
easier for us," explains Susan Weintrob, the head
of Addlestone Hebrew Elementary. "They're more predictable, but especially in
the case of an intruder, that is a difficult situation for anyone, but for
those of us who are educators, we're not trained."
Addlestone Hebrew Elementary
says the drill helped them navigate their children to safety more quickly and
consider some infrastructure changes.
"We have looked into
cameras and creating barriers, for example at the door we see here, which is a
double-door that could be easily accessed with a vehicle," says Weintrob.
Addlestone Hebrew Academy and the Jewish
Community Center of Charleston will implement their new safety plans in the
fall.
