House Approves Stricter Vetting of School Security Guard Applicants

The Connecticut House of Representatives unanimously approved a bill intended to ensure that armed security guards hired as protection in schools meet proper standards of training and experience, according to a press release from the bill's co-sponsor, Rep. Vin Candelora.

The piece of legislation was part of a larger school security package that the House Education Committee presented. It passed 142-0.

Candelora's district includes North Branford, a community which decided in January of this year — just over a month after the Sandy Hook shooting — to approve the hiring of armed security guards for the school system.

Candelora, who also represents Durham, Guilford and Wallingford, noted that North Branford paved the way by hiring six former police officer for the job, but he said he was worried school districts could enter into contracts with unqualified guards for the same jobs.

"With the memory of Sandy Hook still weighing heavily on hearts and minds, school districts have begun considering hiring armed guards from private security forces who do not necessarily have proper training, to work in school settings," the release said.

The bill, SB 1099 An Act Concerning School Safety, establishes requirements for municipalities or boards of education to hire only active or retired police officers to provide armed security at public schools. 

“We want to do everything we can to make our students safer,” Candelora said. “But that’s why we have to make sure that anyone permitted to carry a firearm on school grounds has extensive training with weapons and security. If, God forbid, something happens in one of our schools, a security guard without adequate training could makes things much worse.” 

A retired police officer may be hired, under the bill, if he or she retired from an organized local police department or the State Police, left service in good standing, was authorized to make arrest prior to separation, and met the active duty qualifications in firearms training in the 12 month period prior to hiring. 

The bill has already received approval in the Senate and will now head to Governor Malloy’s desk where proponents hope the legislation is signed into law.