City pays for school metal detectors

By Jim Cook

Published: July 6, 2008

The Dothan City Schools are getting a little extra security thanks to the city government.

The Dothan City Commission recently approved a funding partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice to provide metal detectors and laptop computers for school resource officers in all city schools. The detectors will cost $35,610, with half the cost borne by the city and the other half footed by the Justice Department.

The handheld metal detectors will be placed in all city schools, with one in each elementary school, two in each middle school and high school and three at PASS Academy.

The laptops will be provided to all school cops and police officers in Dothan’s juvenile division. The computers will allow officers to remotely view the city schools’ security camera system and access city crime records and maps.
The new laptops and metal detectors are part of the local municipal government’s ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of its students.

The city school system in recent years has upgraded existing security cameras and installed new ones in city schools. The cameras notably came in handy in 2003, when an assault on a principal at Montana Magnet School was caught on tape. The tape was later used as evidence to convict the assailant.

Several Dothan schools also have their own police officer to call upon in times of need. All Dothan high schools and middle schools have student resource officers, uniformed police officers who patrol the schools and teach classes on law enforcement. The program is funded by school and city money.