The Douglas County School District has hired an armed, full-time security guard at its administration building in Castle Rock.
A school spokesman said the position is not new, but was vacant and suspended for the last several years because of budget restrictions.
Tom Rice, formerly a campus security specialist at Highlands Ranch High School, started the job Dec. 3.
“There have not been any threats, but there have been some incidents that have occurred that would indicate this position is necessary,” said Bill Moffitt, DCSD’s chief operations officer.
He declined to describe the incidents in greater detail.
Armed guards are standard at the district’s high schools, Moffitt said, though they are employees of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. DCSD pays half the armed guards’ salaries, and the sheriff’s office the remainder, he said, while unarmed security staff are employed and paid in full by DCSD.
An armed guard worked at the administration building until seven or eight years ago, Moffitt said.
Rice, whose annual salary is about $37,500, is stationed at the front desk just inside the building’s main entrance. Visitors are required to stop there, sign in and state the reason for their visit, as they are at the district’s schools. Aside from the administration building’s front door, all other entrances are locked, Moffitt said.
A DCSD email to employees at the Wilcox Street building about Rice’s hiring said he will “support safety and security at the district administration building,” and “other safety and security assignments as required.”
“A security presence is not new to the administration building and we believe that it reaffirms our commitment to the safety of students and employees throughout our District,” read the email sent by Daniel Clemente, DCSD’s director of safety and security.
The security position Rice vacated at Highlands Ranch High School will be refilled, Moffitt said.
Welcome to the discussion.
Or, use your linked account: