The Differences Between Unarmed Guards, Armed Guards, and SROs

Deciding to bring in security staff for a school can be a daunting task. It forces us to reckon with the saddening realization that your school’s staff and students could potentially be in harm’s way. One way to combat this is to have a person or team of individuals on campus with the sole purpose of keeping the community safe. That could take the form of an unarmed guard, an armed guard, or a school resource officer. The specific needs of your school will determine which of these options makes the most sense. Let’s dig into the key differences and similarities between them!

Unarmed Guards

One of the quickest ways to get security staff on your campus is to hire unarmed guards. The unarmed guard will be an individual who has gone through some sort of guard training process to receive a certification to be employed as a security guard. This option may appeal to schools as it is often the fastest, easiest, and most affordable way to hire staff and secure their campus. As there are fewer training requirements for unarmed guards, there will also be a larger pool of potential candidates for schools to choose from. However, that can also be the downfall of unarmed guards- the lesser amount of training. In times of emergency, we need our security team to be able to respond decisively and effectively to the situation. It may be beneficial to encourage or incentivize security staff at your school to keep up with current training so that they can stay one step ahead.

Having an armed guard on campus may add to the sense of security your community feels. In addition to going through similar training to unarmed guards, they will also have and maintain training on how to use their firearm. This is a positive, as in most cases it keeps guards consistently training, as well as keeping their work and preparation as a constant priority. Not only are armed guards usually better trained, sometimes the simple act of having an armed person near an entrance of the school deters unwanted activity. Of course, having someone armed on campus is a big step and can come with other unseen factors. In fact, when incidents do arise, the likelihood of someone being injured when an armed guard is present is 4 times higher. If armed guards are the right choice for your community, your school needs to consider a variety of other concerns that follow. Are armed guards trained on what to do with an unruly individual before the police arrive? Are they allowed to detain someone? What does that look like? Does armed mean the lethal force of a gun, or a non-lethal option like a taser or pepper spray? Once again, proper training and planning will be essential as your community incorporates these new team members.

Alternatively, your school instead look to a school resource officer, or SRO, to help protect the community. A SRO is a trained and sworn police officer that is stationed on campus. Because they are a sworn member of the local police department, they will usually carry their firearms and be in police uniform. This option offers a great sense of security, as it ensures that someone who is directly connected to the police department to be on site in case of an emergency. No one will be better suited to respond to an incident on your campus than a police officer who knows the school inside and out.

There are certainly concerns with having a SRO on campus. For one, there is often an uptick of legal action taken against students- especially students of color. What might have been a common “go to the principal’s office” now turns into a visit with the officer, leading to a larger amount of low-level offenses being charged to students.  Frankly, a school resource officer also has a more challenging workload than unarmed or armed guards. They are often required to function simultaneously as a counselor and as a law enforcement officer, toggling quickly between nurturing and authoritative. If an SRO struggles with that balance, your school may have difficulty in maintaining the warm and welcoming atmosphere your community has cultivated.  

On that topic, it's important to remember that no matter which of these options is best suited for your community, you should make sure that your security team is ready to greet students with a smile and a high-five every day! This will help incorporate the security team into your school community, keep guards focused on the mission at hand, and hey, who doesn't like starting their day off with a high-five?