Council members in Enfield, Conn., have responded to the Newtown shooting massacre with a new law — arming officers to patrol the buildings in its school system.
United Press International reports the council passed the memorandum of understanding earlier this week. Come next year, officers donning guns will patrol the schools. The one caveat: Officers hired to patrol must have a background specifically in law enforcement, the military or the corrections field.
The vote was narrow, with five in favor and four opposed. It comes as schools, especially in Connecticut, are seeking ways to best protect students from Newtown-type violence that left 20 children and six adults dead on Dec. 14.
The Enfield program is expected to cost about $650,000 for the first year, UPI reports.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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