Sheriff Arpaio: Armed Posse Members To Guard Schools

Everything from arming teachers and principals, to putting more resource officers on campus, has been suggested to make schools safer.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio is launching his own idea this week: utilizing his armed posse members near schools.

The sheriff came up with the controversial plan right after the horrific school shooting in Newtown, Conn.

Litchfield Park is just one of the schools where a posse member would be close by.

The sheriff stresses the armed posse member will not be in the school, or on the campus. Instead, the posse member would be patrolling the perimeter in marked cars.

Posse members are volunteers who have their own guns and they are insured by MCSO.

“We’re going to do everything we can to deter anybody who feels they can come into the school and cause havoc,” said Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Arpaio is going to start with schools in county islands, where he already has jurisdiction. He’ll start with about 50 schools in areas like Cave Creek, Anthem, Fountain Hills, Sun City, Litchfield Park, Gila Bend, Carefree, Queen Creek and Guadalupe.

He needs no permission from the schools because they are not going to be in the schools. The posse members also are not paid. They underwent training for the new idea.-[source]