Dec 4

Written by: Bret Rachlin
12/4/2009 2:12 PM

Recently, a school security specialist picked up a suspicious suitcase containing what appeared to be pipe-bomb materials in front of a group of students at an elementary school in Omaha, Nebraska (Source: KETV.com, November 30, 2009, School Officials Review Safety Protocols After Object Held). The specialist handled the suitcase after calling 911, but prior to the police arriving. Fortunately, it was not a bomb, but only objects students who were playing with a BB gun left behind.

The incident has led the school to review its safety procedures to ensure safety and security professionals follow the proper protocol concerning mysterious objects that could cause harm. Additionally, the school is training its safety patrol students on how to deal with suspicious packages.

Overall, this elementary school should be commended for engaging in this level of detailed training to ensure that security professionals, as well as safety patrol students, know the proper procedures to follow for not only suspicious packages, but also a variety of other potential safety and security issues. Moreover, while it’s unknown how often the school conducts training exercises (we know it conducts fire drills, as all schools do, on a regular basis), it’s imperative that schools like this one should have more practice sessions to prepare for these types of situations. Schools that conduct security and safety risk assessments on a consistent basis and then follow up on the action items resulting from those assessments are more prepared to handle the eventual safety and/or security incident in a safe and effective manner.

Does your school practice the process for dealing with a suspicious package? Does your school safety patrol know what to do when they see a suspicious package?

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