School board votes against tasers in school

MOBILE, Ala. - Should tasers be allowed in public schools? Mobile County School Board Members don't think so, or at least some of them. The board voted 3-to-2 Monday night against the action.

A number of folks spoke out against the need for tasers and the possibility of abuse. "My main concern is that security guards would get lazy and use them when they shouldn't," said one concerned resident.

"I don't think there needs to be tasers in schools, they should bring back corporal punishment, but not tasers," said another.

Superintendent, Dr. Roy Nichols says if the action passed, it would have cost about $25,000 to the get the tasers. The superintendent wanted to the action to pass to better protect students and security personnel.

Nichols says security guards and resource officers are usually the first responders and they need something, since lawmakers outlawed handguns on school grounds.

Board members say the issue of after-hours security guards having handguns could come up in the future.

The Mobile County Public School Board has voted not to let security personnel use taser guns in public schools.

Most police departments in our area are equipped with tasers or stun guns. Saraland Police Corporal Duncan Herrington says they're a valuable tool in law enforcement.

"It goes through the central nervous system and overrides it. And there's nothing you can do to stop it. They say once you by the ticket you got to ride the ride," Herrington said.

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Tasers could soon make their way to Mobile County Public School campuses.

School superintendent Dr. Roy Nichols said resource officers and security guards are at a disadvantage since the legislature outlawed handguns on school grounds.

"So, we decided they needed something to protect themselves, and to use as an intervention tool if an active shooter appears on campus," Dr. Nichols said.

Dr. Nichols said school security are often the first responders when an intruder enters school property.

School personnel would be trained to use the tasers, and Dr. Nichols said the board would have a policy for the use of the weapons.

Angenica Powell is a parent. She is not comfortable with the idea of tasers in the schools, "As a parent I don't think they should have it. I personally disagree."

Joyce Powell said it wouldn't bother her to know the non legal weapons were on her grand child's campus. "If they need it I think they should use it, because some of them are uncontrollable," she said.

Dr. Nichols said most of the resource officers are former police officers, and he said up until a few years ago they were all armed with real handguns.