LA School PD Has 'No Plans' To Keep High-Powered Weapons On LAUSD Campuses
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The Los Angeles School Police Department has no plans to keep high-powered weapons on campuses despite the Fontana Unified School District's decision to purchase 14 AR-15 assault rifles to protect its students.
"We don't have any weapons that are stored on our police campus. We have no immediate plans to do that," LAUSD School Police Chief Steve Zipperman told KCAL9's Dave Lopez.
However, Zipperman said there is always room for discussion.
"I think it's important that we always evaluate. Are we deploying these weapons in the right place? Do we have the proper amount of weapons out there to be able to respond to those types of incidents?" he said.
Zipperman, however, said school police have strategically placed armories and other satellite stations.
"I believe we are ready. I hope we never have to use those weapons, but in the event that we have to counter-assault some type of an armed assault on one of our campuses or anywhere else in the community, I feel comfortable we have the ability to respond to that," he said.
In addition, the Los Angeles Police Department, which works with school police, said officers are well-equipped with weapons in their vehicles to respond to campus emergencies.
As for semi-automatic rifles being stored on other school districts' campuses, Santa Ana Unified said they have assault weapons for their officers, but none on school grounds.
Lopez tried to contact the Long Beach Unified School District, but was unable to get a response.
RELATED STORY:
Fontana School PD Purchases 14 AR-15 Assault Weapons To Protect Students
