Evaluating Campus Security Following California Hostage Situation

Evaluating Campus Security Following California Hostage Situation

The standard campus entry policy at the front desk did not deter him.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • Nov 06, 2017

An elementary school in California was evacuated last Tuesday after an upset parent barged onto campus and held a first-grade teacher hostage for more than six hours. The standard campus entry policy at the front desk did not deter him, witnesses said, and the situation was brought to a close when a police SWAT team entered the school and shot him.

The parent, Luvelle Kennon, entered the front office at Castle View Elementary School and was “probably the most upset parent I’ve had,” said Stephanie Zolfaghari, the principal’s secretary. She would not allow Kennon to follow the standard safety policy of signing in and getting an identification badge, but he forced his way in anyway, entering the campus through an unlocked glass door as Zolfaghari called for a lockdown.

District spokesman Justin Grayson said the door was unlocked all day because it is the only point of campus entry, both allowing parents to enter the school and students to enter the office.

In addition, no school district police officers were on campus at the time. According to Riverside Police Department spokesman Ryan Railsback, Riverside United has eight School Resource Officers, each of whom is assigned to one of the district’s nine high schools as well as its associated middle schools and feeder elementary schools. Officers travel between their assigned schools as needed but spend most of their time at the high schools.

Though the district declined to comment on security procedures, Riverside United school board vice-president Patricia Lock-Dawson said they will be “reviewing the events in the days to come.” Grayson said that officials are not prepared yet to discuss any upgrades to campus security.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Freedom of Choice

    In today's security landscape, we are witnessing a fundamental transformation in how organizations manage digital evidence. Law enforcement agencies, campus security teams, and large facility operators face increasingly complex challenges with expanding video data, tightening budget constraints and inflexible systems that limit innovation. Read Now

  • Accelerating a Pathway

    There is a new trend touting the transformational qualities of AI’s ability to deliver actionable data and predictive analysis that in many instances, seems to be a bit of an overpromise. The reality is that very few solutions in the cyber-physical security (CPS) space live up to this high expectation with the one exception being the new generation of Physical Identity and Access Management (PIAM) software – herein recategorized as PIAM+. Read Now

  • Protecting Your Zones

    It is game day. You can feel the crowd’s energy. In the parking lot. At the gate. In the stadium. On the concourse. Fans are eager to party. Food and merchandise vendors ready themselves for the rush. Read Now

  • Street Smarts

    The ongoing acceptance of AI and advanced data analytics has allowed surveillance camera technology to shift from being a tactical tool to a strategic business solution. Combining traditional surveillance technology with AI-based data-driven insights can streamline transportation systems, enhance traffic management, improve situational awareness, optimize resource allocation and streamline emergency response procedures. Read Now

  • Midtown Manhattan Shooting Kills 4, Including NYPD Officer

    Four people were killed, including a NYPD officer, in a midtown Manhattan shooting on Monday. That’s according to CNN. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.