TERRE HAUTE — Police officers, with full arrest powers, will be stationed inside all Terre Haute schools starting as early as April 1, officials for the city and the Vigo County School Corp. announced Monday.
The action can be taken upon approval of the Vigo County School Board, which approved the matter Monday night.
Currently, Terre Haute North Vigo High School and Terre Haute South Vigo High School have full-time officers at the schools, but that leaves 12 other city schools without a police presence, said Terre Haute Police Chief John Plasse.
“There has been no active shooter incident in any school in the U.S. that has had an armed officer present,” Plasse said. “I hope that trend continues and if we enact this security measure, we would do what I think is best for all the schools in the city.”
The annual cost is $353,000, with the Vigo County School Corp. paying about half at $176,000.
The city of Terre Haute will pay the rest, largely funded this year through a seized asset fund, said Mayor Duke Bennett.
Earlier this month, Vigo County Sheriff Greg Ewing announced he would seek funding from the Vigo County Council to place an armed officer in all schools in the county. For that, the Vigo School Corp. would pay $135,000, with the county matching an additional $135,000. The Vigo County Council will not vote on that measure until March.
“Many of the attackers stop their attack when officers arrive on scene, but we can’t afford to wait for that response, I don’t think,” Plasse said. “Active shooter incidents are usually over in a matter of minutes, but seconds count when there is no defense for an active shooter,” he said.
“By implementing this measure, a trained law enforcement officer will be there to deter any would-be attacker and also to confront them head-on should they decide to do something,” Plasse said.
Officers will also have radios, allowing them to immediately contact the county’s central dispatch center for a quicker police response, Plasse said.
The officers would be off-duty or retired officers from the city, as well as any other police agency in the area, such as West Terre Haute.
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