Exclusive look into Metro Detroit armed security training
More Metro Detroit schools are hiring armed officers to provide security during and after school.
In one case, a possible mass shooting at a school was averted because of the actions of an armed school security officer.
Two men are accused of plotting to open fire during a graduation ceremony for the Arts and Technology Academy of Pontiac. When a fight broke out inside the venue Michael Johnson, a former Oakland County Sheriff’s deputy who now works as a security officer for Fortis Security Group, called 911 and requested a police presence.
“Somebody yelled ‘Fight, fight, fight,’ and I took off running. By the time I got inside, the other security had it under control. But I had a gut feeling something more was coming,” Johnson said.
This is just one part of Local 4’s investigation into Michigan school safety. Here’s what’s in the entire report:
- Data from Michigan’s student safety program (OK2SAY) dating back to 2014.
- Data from Michigan’s Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI) that breaks down incidents of bullying and the number of violent crime victims in Michigan’s schools.
- District-level data on bullying and violent crime numbers for districts in Southeast Michigan.
---> Click here to view the interactive investigative report.
How many schools contract with Fortis Security?
Fortis Security is contracted by 15 schools and school districts across Metro Detroit and provides armed security for 50 school buildings. Most of their employees are retired law enforcement officers.
Fortis Security is contracted by the following public school districts:
- Oxford Community Schools
- Anchor Bay School District
- Lake Shore Public Schools
- Hartland Consolidated Schools
- Huron Valley Schools
- Eastpointe Community Schools
- Brighton Area Schools (for after-school sporting events)
Fortis Security has established relationships with the following private schools:
- Holy Name in Birmingham
- Our Lady of Refuge in Orchard Lake
- Everest Academy in Clarkston
- St. Regis in Bloomfield Hills
- Our lady queen of Martyrs in Beverly Hills
- Academy of Sacred Heart in Bloomfield Hills
- St. Catherine of Siena Academy in Wixom
- Detroit Catholic Central in Novi
- Our Lady of Good Counsel in Plymouth
- Ann Arbor Cristian Academy in Ann Arbor
The company also has a presence at Ivywood Classical Academy in Plymouth and Cleary University in Howell.
Exclusive look at how armed school security guards train
Over the summer, the Investigators at Local 4 traveled to Holly, Michigan, to get an exclusive look at how the armed guards train to protect students in Metro Detroit schools.
The session went over securing flexible learning spaces in schools.
“When we walk by a classroom we’re used to seeing desks with students in them, and now we’re seeing love seats pushed together with patio lights across -- and we don’t know why, what’s going on,” James Vernier with Fortis Security said.
Officers also learn about the importance of making contact with students every single day.
“You know, think of a minor statement made here, a minor statement made there. They may mean nothing individually, but you put those together and it could be something more serious,” Vernier said.
Officers like Devin Benson provide protect in Metro Detroit school hallways.
“We are former law enforcement officers, and it’s very important with the culture of the day,” Benson said. “We’re here to protect our kids, protect the staff.”