After the horrific shooting which took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., a spotlight is being placed on another Florida school’s cutting-edge program to protect students. Southeastern University is the only college campus in the Sunshine State to allow staff to carry guns on campus.
This voluntary Sentinel Program started in the summer of 2017 and operates as a partnership between the Polk County sheriff’s office and the university.
“In addition to all the training, threat assessments, individual intervention, and technology we have invested into our security programs, we know one more critical thing we can do to reduce the number of lives impacted in an active assailant incident is a shorter response time for the good guys to interrupt and stop the bad guy,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
Under the Sentinel Program, volunteer staff members are vetted, selected, and trained for active assailant incidents. Individuals participating in the Sentinel Program are appointed by the sheriff as volunteer “special deputies,” which have no authority to act in any law enforcement capacity outside of an active assailant incident on campus.
Each special deputy undergoes a criminal background check, drug testing, and a psychological evaluation as well as 100 hours of comprehensive firearm safety and proficiency training for the purpose of providing security on campus during an active assailant incident. This 100-hour block of firearms instruction is 25 percent more instruction than the standard that is required for certified law enforcement officers. In addition to the 100 hours, special deputies are also required to complete 32 hours of deadly force training.
“The safety of our students, faculty, and staff is a paramount concern for us at Southeastern University,” Kent Ingle, president of Southeastern University, said in a press release. “We are excited about this new program that will result in well-trained staff being available on campus to rapidly respond to any active assailant threat. We are committed to providing the safest learning environment possible for our university community.”
Southeastern University describes itself as “a Christ-centered institution of higher learning… committed to equipping the next generation of leaders so that they can go into the world as influential servants in their careers and their communities.”
