Again I have watched a press conference held in Uvalde, Texas by law enforcement and

[PurgedVoter]

28. School Security is for the most part, Security Theatre

My career has been working inside Texas schools. I have been included on the police walk throughs multiple times. I have seen schools that were designed with security in mind.

The security in mind was all show. Any child in the school with a mind to, can bring things in using back doors. Any child that can exit a door, can open the door for entry. If a school has identification cards, they are more vulnerable than schools where people who work and go there can recognize each other. Technicians, contractors doing repair, maintenance, janitors and air conditioning repairmen all have keys and access. By nature they come and go and they are not trained in security. You cannot have a school stay in shape and not have serious security issues.

Anyone who has ever been on a military base when the security protocols have been raised, knows what real security is. Real security is such a pain that all the teachers would leave in the first year. What you see when you look at a school is a place where the teachers and staff still put passwords on the bottom of keyboards. You see a place where the councilors and cheerleaders open doors for each other and let whatever come back in and out.

I have met brilliant officers that made a school a safer place. I have seen officers in schools that made a difference, made the school safer and contributed to the security of the school and the community. That is the only security that works. A detective who is tough and fit, ready to do the right thing and has a personality that people will talk to, is the best extra security you can have. I cannot give enough praise to the truly fine officers I have met that were more observant, more fit and more vigilant than I could ever be. The best are always listening and always learning. The best officers are practically superhuman in my eyes and I am not exaggerating. Sadly, the police are made up of a mix of people.

Some of them are weekend warriors who are waiting for the end so they can profit by being the only ones ready for it. Some officers take to the training that teaches them to lie like fish to water. Some officers are bullies that love to swagger with a gun on their hip. Some are damaged ex military who still see it all as them and us. Some didn't make it as the sports star they wanted to be. And some went to authority as the fastest road to opportunity.

When you have a mix like this and the ranks are tight and will not turn on each other, security goes away entirely. If an officer is not the active, intelligent, listening individual you need for a community or school to be safe, then you have problems.