A Better Way

Combat-trained school resource officer says campus fortifications, not armed teachers, are the way to protect students.

Resource Officer Francis Smith served 21 years as an airborne infantry medic, he's jumped out of airplanes and is a certified SWAT operator who trains weekly to keep his skills sharp.

In short, he's a badass.

But he'll tell you that with all his training and combat experience, if he has to relyonly on his 9 mm Glock in a gun battle against even an amateur with an AR-15 rifle, he's outgunned and outmatched.

"It's a suicide mission," Smith said. "You're facing an attack rifle that can shoot over 300 meters versus a sidearm that is effective for about 40 meters."

"It kind of frightens me to have an educator come to school with the mindset that you may need to end someone's life. You need to be trained to have the focus you need for that, and you cannot wait for an adrenaline-rush event to do something. You have to constantly keep training. Scenario -based training," he said. "They are jumping straight to Plan Z before considering plans A, B andC."

Instead of arming teachers, Smith suggests making it harder for an attacker to get into a school.

"Use the money (that you would have used for) extra officers or arming teachers to improve the infrastructure," he said.

"Security has changed in the airports. We accepted that, but why can't we accept that with our schools? These are our children so why can't we improve the infrastructure? If you cannot get into the school then we won't have any issues."

Smith admits his ideas may be controversial and that some may even irk school officials but said, "I may end up back on patrol after this, but it's too important not to talk about."

In a recent in-depth conversation, Smith outlined steps he thought would make schools safer. The ideas are not new, but they require money to implementinstall protective glass In every window

During the Feb. 14, shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, accused shooter Nikolas Cruz tried to shoot through an exterior, third-floor window. The hurricane-resistant window cracked but didnot shatter. The window overlooked a crowd of students in the open. Cruz moved on.

Smith said mass shooters don't spend much time trying to get past security measures because they know time is short and they want to inflict maximum carnage.

Laminated, protective glass could also help repel an attacker. Adam Lanza, who killed 26 students and staff at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012, got into the school building by shoot -ing out a traditional plate glass window.

Install blast-resistant doors at every exterior and interior entrance

The doors would lock automatically when closed. Alarms on exterior doors would go off when opened by unauthorized people.

Cruz reportedly walked into the high school building through an open door.

Install metal detectors and require clear backpacks at every school

Not only would having students go through metal detectors make it more difficult to get a weapon into school, it would also serve as a deterrent to even try, Smith said.

Small, clear backpacks would allow school staff to easily spot contraband. Students who bring large cases to school with instruments or duffle bags with sports gear would need to check those at the school office in the morning.

Cruz carried a large duffle bag into the school concealing the AR-15 he used to kill 17 people.

Uniforms across the district

Smith feels uniforms would remove a major cause of bullying.

"Children should not judge other children based on the socioeconomic position of their parents and what they can afford," he said. "I see it a lot in my investigations. With

uniforms, you don't have to worry about the type of clothes that you're wearing. You can focus on your studies."

Bullying and harassment are at the heart of most school incidents he investigates. School shooters often have bullying in their background.

"If we could stop the bullying, what are the chances we would have an active shooter engage our schools? Adults don't go to school to shoot them up. Most of the time it's kids," he said.

There are other strategies, including more monitored cameras, motion detectors and emergency alarms that use voice alerts.

But if things stay as they are or until schools fortify, Smith would like to carry a specially- equipped AR -15 of his own.

While trained and certified in the use of the weapon as part of his SWAT duties, right now, he has to keep it locked in a secure location. If something happens, he'd have to spend time getting the weapon or forget it and respond with his sidearm.