U.S. Rep. John Barrow told Statesboro city officials Friday that he supports the idea of armed, trained administrators in schools.
Barrow, D-Ga., visited the Statesboro Police Department to discuss local law enforcement issues. Other local law enforcement agencies were invited, he said, but only Statesboro Public Safety Director Wendell Turner, City Manager Frank Parker, police Crime Suppression Unit Lt. Rob Bryan and Statesboro Fire Chief Tim Grams attended the meeting.
“I’m all for folks who are qualified to have guns on (school) premises,” Barrow said, specifically speaking of principals who have had former police or military training.
Armed officers or faculty members at schools could help save lives, Barrow said.
Bulloch County Schools Superintendent Charles Wilson said he would need more details about what Barrow is proposing before he could comment on it.
Also, a more efficient way of alerting police to dangers should be utilized, the congressman said.
Often, 911 centers in busy areas are “overloaded” with calls, and callers sometimes are met with busy operators who ask them to hold, he said.
A principal dialing 911 to report an emergency might find himself on hold, but a new system that is already in use by some areas could mean the difference between lives lost or saved.
“A signal sent directly to public safety that supersedes 911 would cut response time,” Barrow said. “This technology is readily available now – a panic button. Every principal should have one. Access would be strictly limited. This technology exists and should be applied.”
Turner said some local schools have a “panic button” that alerts 911 should a dangerous situation arise, but Barrow said the technology that sends alerts directly to police would be a better choice in safety measures.
“I’m talking about a system that goes straight to the (patrol) cars,” he said.
Barrow stopped in Statesboro Friday as part of a tour across the 12th Congressional District this week.
“This is the second week Congress has been off since the (president’s) swearing in,” he said. The first week, “We had 16 ‘Congress on the Corner’ meetings in four days. I’ve been touring my district this week and had 18 meetings with public safety officers.”
Barrow and those attending the meeting discussed grant application processes, budgeting, and funding. He gave police the names of staff members in his offices to whom they should contact for help with grant applications.
“We’ve got no magic wand, we’ve got no magic bullet,” he said, referring to being able to influence whether the applicants receive grants, “but we will help in any way.”
One resource he listed was a newsletter that can be found on his website (barrow.house.gov) called “The Gain” – standing for Grants Assistance Internet Newsletter, which “gives a 30-day notice of every state grant the government will announce,” he said.
Other concerns discussed included the issue of persons in jail and prisons with mental health issues that need a different environment.
With state hospitals being closed, many inmates with mental illness are not receiving the care they need. Law enforcement officers are forced to deal with repeated arrests and housing of mentally ill citizens who break the law, Barrow said, adding that every law enforcement group he has spoken with has expressed this concern.
Turner said Statesboro police often deal with “emotionally disturbed persons” while patrolling the streets.
More police departments are finding a need for officers trained to deal with mentally and emotionally disturbed people.
“The criminal justice model has no relevance to the mentally ill (issue),” Barrow said. “You (law enforcement) have become the flight attendants of public safety. More and more stuff has been dumped on y’all.”

Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at (912) 489-9414.