Tasers, pepper spray detected by Henrico Schools weapons scanners

A taser and pepper spray were confiscated at J.R. Tucker High School and two tasers were confiscated at Highland Springs High School in four separate incidents after being detected by weapons scanners.

Other than these four incidents, no other weapons have been detected by school weapons scanners, according to Henrico County Public Schools spokesperson Eileen Cox. Henrico Schools implemented weapons detection scanners in all high schools at the beginning of the school year.

HCPS officials also announced Oct. 11 that weapons scanners will be placed in all middle schools before Thanksgiving. The school system is not sharing exact implementation dates for each school due to security reasons, Cox said.

Weapons scanners will be placed in all elementary schools once equipment is received from the supplier; no implementation dates have been announced.

Students who bring any weapon other than a firearm onto school grounds may face short-term or long-term suspension or a recommendation for expulsion, according to the HCPS Code of Student Conduct. In most cases, the School Resource Officers must be involved.

While weapons scanners are designated for use during the school day, principals may choose to use the scanners at afterschool events, according to Cox. Traditional metal detectors are already used at high school football games across the county. Organizations that rent out school spaces are responsible for their own security and will not be permitted to use the scanners.

HCPS officials decided to place weapons scanners in all schools following several incidents in the past few years in which students brought firearms on school campuses – including an elementary school earlier this year.

After HCPS conducted field testing with weapons scanners and metal detectors in several schools this past spring, 75% of parents surveyed and 60% of staff surveyed said they thought metal detectors would effectively reduce weapon violence in schools.

However, some students and families were initially critical of the scanners after they caused long lines and long wait times outside of school buildings during the first week of school. HCPS officials said they were able to “dramatically decrease” the lines after a few days and altogether had a “smooth transition” at a school board meeting Aug. 24.

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Liana Hardy is the Citizen’s Report for America Corps member and education reporter. Her position is dependent upon reader support; make a tax-deductible contribution to the Citizen through RFA here.