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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThere was an armed guard during the Columbine massacare
But hey,
efferson County Sheriffs Deputy Neil Gardner soon would complete his second year as the uniformed community resource officer assigned to Columbine High School. Gardner, a 15-year veteran of the Sheriffs Office, normally ate his lunch with the students in the cafeteria during first lunch period. His car would have been parked in his normal spot in front of the cafeteria doors - between the junior and senior parking lots.
On April 20, however, Deputy Gardner and campus supervisor Andy Marton, an unarmed school security officer employed by the school district, were eating lunch in Gardners patrol car. They were monitoring students in the Smokers Pit, a spot just to the northwest of campus in Clement Park where the students congregated to smoke cigarettes.
Gardner had just finished his lunch when he received a call over the schools radio from a custodian. Neil, called the custodian in a panicked voice, I need you in the back lot!
Gardner pulled out of the parking lot near the schools tennis courts and drove onto Pierce Street in front of the school. The back lot being referred to by the custodian, he assumed, was the south student parking lot by the cafeteria. As soon as he pulled onto Pierce Street, he heard another call being dispatched over the Sheriffs radio, Female down in the south lot of Columbine High School. He activated his lights and siren. It was 11:23.
In his own mind, he recalled later, he thought someone probably had been hit by a car.
First Shooter Seen
As soon as Gardner pulled into the south parking lot off of South Pierce Street, he saw kids running out of the school in every direction. As he drove around toward the south lot, he also saw smoke coming from the west end of the parking lot and heard several loud explosions. Students standing on the soccer field were pointing toward the building. He could hear gunshots coming from inside the school but could not pinpoint from where.
Gardner pulled his vehicle into the senior parking lot where he had a good vantage point. He could see both parking lots, the cafeteria and the second story west entrance to the school. As he got out of his patrol car, he received a second call on the school radio. Neil, theres a shooter in the school....... more
http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/DEPUTIES_TEXT.htm
I knew and taught kids that went to Columbine during this.
byeya
(2,842 posts)am familiar with. Usually they are deputy sheriffs.
Like your Post, this has been pointed out and ignored before.
Thanks for posting; I think it bears continued repeating.
JimDandy
(7,318 posts)as far as stopping the gunmen is concerned. My daughter-in-law and her sister were at school there that day. "Good Guy with Gun" wasn't able to stop anything.
former9thward
(31,961 posts)Does that mean we do away with SS agents?
X_Digger
(18,585 posts)Before Columbine, the response was, "secure the perimeter and wait for backup / SWAT".
Today? Confront the shooter. These assholes tend to either kill themselves with their own weapons, or commit suicide by cop.
byeya
(2,842 posts)kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)members patrolling school halls by the dozens.
At least it will solve our unemployment problem.
Ichingcarpenter
(36,988 posts)each should be armed.
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)Mojorabbit
(16,020 posts)The guard picked up a shovel to use as a shield. Luckily this one ended well.