Security guard at school is pulled from duty

Security guard at school is pulled from duty

Staff report

WARREN

A security guard working in the Willard K-8 building for a private security company last week and “acting strangely” won’t be working security in any of the Warren City Schools buildings in the future.

Michael Notar, Warren schools business manager, said he, the Delta Elite owner and a Warren police officer responded to the Willard building after the building principal called Notar about the worker.

Notar said a search of the employee uncovered nothing illegal, though an old knife was found in the worker’s bag.

The worker said he forgot the knife was there, Notar said.

The worker was escorted from the school by the Delta Elite owner.

The worker took a drug test, which he passed, Notar said.

The Warren police officer said he detected the smell of marijuana on the security guard’s jacket, but the guard said the jacket belonged to someone else, Notar said.

Warren City Schools began using security guards in each of the district’s K-8 buildings and its alternative school in the former school administration building on Monroe Street on Oct. 1.

Before Oct. 1, the school district received security from three Warren police officers, but the arrangement meant that one police officer was assigned to the four K-8 buildings and the alternative school, which opened this school year.

The two other police officers were assigned to the high school, but there were times when some of that staffing was not available because of sick leave and vacation time, Notar said.

The board and administration, in consultation with community groups, felt that hiring private security would provide better coverage, Notar said.