Cumberland County aims to increase school security with volunteers armed with radios

Interim Superintendent Tim Kinlaw made a pitch Tuesday for a school watch program that would involve volunteers patrolling campuses with radios to report suspicious activity. He said the program is modeled after neighborhood community watch programs.

The volunteers would receive training in radio communications, crisis management and safety.

"They'll go through a training program," said Kinlaw. "Certainly, radio communications. They'll go through our crisis management book. They'll go through a safety protocol."

Kinlaw said some volunteers may patrol on foot, and some others may use golf carts to check buildings around campus and the parking lots.

"(They will be) primarily outside the school. They can volunteer for one hour or all day. It will be a very structured program in that they will come in, they will check in, they will receive their radio and proper identification. School administrators will know they are on duty," he said.

Teachers say they have been doing their part to help with safety.

"I drive around the parking lot here, just take a couple laps to make sure that nobody is hanging out in the parking lot. Nobody's coming off the street with us being right here on Fort Bragg Road," said Andrew Christie, a teacher.

The additional eyes and ears would be a welcome sight for principals who currently have teachers pulling security in between classes.

"Any extra help where our volunteers are cleared and they are background checked and they understand their limitations, I'll take every person I can get to help us out," said Tom Hatch, principal of Terry Sanford High School.