Aug. 24, 2022
Every 90 minutes, Officer Brian Cathey checks every exterior door at Carver Middle School. He ensures all 21 doors are closed and locked, walking the entire interior of the school building. But ensuring doors are closed continuously takes more than one police officer.
"There are so many doors at every school, and we walk around the entire building and check them often," said Officer Cathey. "But that's just one way we keep campuses secure. So if our teachers and other employees can help us keep the building secure, then it is more secure for everyone."
During the first week of school, 25 Springfield School Police officers are adhering 1,500 stickers to SPS doors as part of a new safety campaign: Stop the Prop. The districtwide campaign encourages and empowers everyone to help keep schools safer, said School Police Chief Jim Farrell.
"History shows us that if we keep people out of our buildings, we keep our buildings, students and staff safer," said Chief Farrell. "To do that, we have to keep the doors locked and closed."
The campaign's concept is simple: Stop the Prop. SPS employees, students and visitors are encouraged to stop propping open doors and close doors they see propped open. This simple step is essential to keeping facilities secure.
"We have to protect our kids, no matter what, and it takes a team effort to do that," said Officer Cathey. "It takes everybody, from administrators to custodians to teachers, we have to work together as a team to make sure our buildings stay safe and secure. It's everybody's responsibility to make sure our doors are secure."
