Image Credit: thecovenantschool.com
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
Nashville’s Covenant School started their ’23-‘24 school year off on Wednesday this week, after months of deliberation over safety concerns following The Covenant School shooting that took the lives of three students and three adults back in March of this year.
Throughout this summer, school administration, church staff, and their security company have been planning out a more intensive security plan for the upcoming school year.
Robert Young, a retired detective for the Metro Nashville Police Department and owner of Covert Results, the company responsible for securing The Covenant School, has said that they worked “tirelessly” throughout the summer to ensure a more secure environment for students going forward.
As a result, the company has ensured all security measures are comprehensive and up-to-date and have equipped their security officers with bulletproof backpacks and emergency supplies.
Officers will continue to be present during each school day, watching out for any potential security threats. They will also run license plates if deemed necessary.
Additionally, each security officer’s responsibility will extend past The Covenant School itself. Their security technology will be employed at both The Covenant School’s temporary location as well as the dozens of other private and charter schools serviced by Covert Results.
One such security technology is called the ballistic backpack, designed to “enhance officer readiness.” Each backpack contains tourniquets and other emergency supplies, equipping officers to address a “variety of situations.”
The security company’s owner explained how exactly these backpacks might be used.
“In a situation where there could be an active threat, you would quickly put it [the ballistic backpack] on the front,” said Young. “This allows you to access your weapon efficiently and respond swiftly toward the active threat… If you need to access anything in the bag, you can easily open it up. You got your medical kit; you can easily throw to a victim.”
Over 100 volunteers were also expected to show up on Wednesday to assist security officers in patrolling the areas surrounding the school.
However, Young has been encouraging these volunteers to stay off the actual campus in order to maintain a clear parking lot for students and staff.
“We obviously would love any help,” Young stated. “But obviously I think the public understands that having 120 extra people that you didn’t intend to be at a small parking lot could present a logistical nightmare.”
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
