There's new training available for police officers charged with keeping students safe in Charlotte.
During a press conference today Wednesday, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Lt. Gene Lim, who oversees CMPD's 52 school resource officers, spoke about the new training. Lim described part of the training as “back to basics” relating to defensive tactics.
School resource officers also receive SWAT-designed training that includes how to run to gun threats, how to clear a building, and target recognition.
Lim says as a former school resource officer himself, he understands the stress of not knowing if a gun is in a school.
"I was at a middle school when Newtown, Connecticut, happened and I just remembered the fear that gripped the students the teachers and even the community when we came back to school that Monday," Lim said. "Oddly enough my first week here in this position, the Parkland, Florida, shooting happened.
"Ever since I’ve been an SRO, I’ve thought about that going into school every day. It just hits home. We have to prepare for the not 'if' but 'when' these scenarios happen."
Lim added that the recent shootings at UNC Charlotte and Butler High enforce the need for continued training for school resource officers.
