Ky. officials to NRA: More than just armed cops needed

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky education officials say the National Rifle Association's call for armed police officers in every school is not the answer to school safety issues.

Instead, officials said Friday every school should have a school resource officer who is not only armed, but is specially trained to work in schools.

Terry Holliday, Kentucky's commissioner of education, said no armed guard could have prevented the Connecticut school massacre. Jon Akers, director of the Kentucky Center for School Safety, which helps schools develop individualized safety plans, said school resource officers establish relationships with children that can be beneficial if students become aware of situation that could be dangerous.

Akers said school resource officers receive 40 hours of extra law enforcement training that is specific to working in a school environment.

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