Article Originally Published Here
Long Island District Joins Growing List of Schools Turning to Armed Guards
Commack, a suburban town in Suffolk County on Long Island, will begin stationing armed security guards across all its schools starting next academic year. The move, which has stirred both support and concern among parents and students, aligns Commack with at least 20 other Long Island school districts that have already adopted similar security measures.
The plan was formally approved in March when the Commack school board unanimously voted to include a $1.2 million contract with private security firm Covert Investigations Inc. in the proposed budget. The budget was overwhelmingly passed by voters on May 21, just days after a hoax mass-shooting threat prompted a full lockdown at nearby Long Beach High School.
READ: Are Panic Buttons the Key to Safer Schools? Exploring the Rise of Instant Alert Technology
Armed Security Presence by Campus
The district will place:
- One armed guard at each of its elementary schools
- Two armed guards at both the middle school and high school
These guards will be part of the Covert Investigations team, a Ronkonkoma-based company known for employing a combination of active and retired law enforcement officers. The company currently provides daily armed security to approximately 155,000 students across Suffolk County, making it the largest K-12 armed school security provider on Long Island.
Community Reactions: A Divided Public
The initiative has sparked debate within the Commack community. Some residents, like local grandfather Richard Stone, expressed mixed feelings:
“I don’t like it, but I think it’s necessary. We need gun control in this country, but that doesn’t seem to be on the table, so what else can we do?”
Others, including many parents, fully support the decision—despite the price tag.
“I love it, and I’m all for it,” said Nazia Khan, whose child attends middle school in Commack. “We live in a crazy world where things are completely out of control and schools are no longer safe.”
Not everyone agrees, however. Opponents argue that Commack already has solid security protocols in place and question the need for an armed presence—particularly with the district’s already high property taxes. The $1.2 million allocated for armed security could have been used elsewhere, they say, such as for mental health services or educational programs.
Student Opinions: Support Mixed with Unease
Interestingly, many students also voiced support for the new security plan. A seventh-grade student told The Post she believes she will feel safer with armed guards on school grounds, even though the presence of guns inside schools is still unsettling.
“What if one of the new guards is the one who goes crazy and starts shooting?” she asked, echoing a concern about unintended consequences.
This sentiment highlights the delicate balance schools must strike between ensuring physical safety and preserving an environment where students feel emotionally secure.
A Regional Shift in School Security
Commack’s decision is part of a broader shift among Long Island districts, especially in Suffolk County, where 18 of the 20 districts now deploying armed guards are located. Since 2018, Long Island schools have steadily embraced heightened security in response to increasing national concerns over school shootings.
Covert Investigations, already operating in most of those districts, has built its reputation around staffing schools with trained professionals, most with law enforcement backgrounds. The firm’s website emphasizes its leadership in school protection and its ability to implement advanced surveillance systems, strategic response planning, and integrated security solutions.
Implementation Plans and Training
According to district documents and presentations from earlier this year:
- Training will be provided to the district’s current unarmed security personnel.
- New surveillance technology will be installed across campuses.
- Emergency response protocols will be updated district-wide.
- On-site training for armed guards will take place during school breaks or when campuses are empty, such as over summer.
Although the district declined to offer additional comments, officials noted during the board meeting that careful planning and transparency are essential to the program’s success.
The Broader Conversation: Safety, Trust, and Responsibility
Commack’s move underscores the difficult decisions school leaders face in today’s safety landscape. On one hand, arming guards addresses immediate fears of school violence. On the other, it opens up challenging questions: Does the presence of firearms truly prevent violence, or does it alter the nature of school environments in ways that are hard to measure?
Critics warn of the dangers of normalizing armed presence around children. Proponents counter that it’s a pragmatic response to a national crisis where legislative action on gun control remains elusive.
“We’re living in crazy times where people like to come to school with guns and just shoot everyone — it’s madness,” said Stone.
In the absence of systemic change at the national level, communities like Commack are choosing local solutions—however controversial—to try to keep their children safe.
One Response