Security Officer Hired by School in Response to Sandy Hook Shooting Forgets to Take Handgun With Him When Exiting Student Restroom
Just days after calling its newly hired armed security guard "a tremendous asset to the safety of our students," a Michigan school released a statement saying the retired firearms instructor had caused a "breach in security protocol" by leaving his handgun unattended in the school's bathroom.
Clark Arnold, formerly of the Lapeer County Sheriff's Office, was hired as a security officer by the Chatfield School in Lapeer following a review of security procedures in the wake of last month's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary.
"It's probably slim to next to none that someone's going to be needed in the school, but it's that slim you have to worry about," Arnold told TV5 earlier this week.
The interview was posted one day after Arnold had accidentally left an unloaded gun in the students' bathroom "for a few moments," according to a Chatfield School official.
The school, which serves grades K through 8, insists that no students were in danger, and vowed to "continue to work on improving school security."
No charges are pending against Arnold, and Chatfield School Director Matt Young would not say what punishment, if any, the security officer might receive.
"It's almost like no harm no foul," said Lapeer County Prosecutor Byron Konschuh.
