Staff members at a private college in central Florida will receive active shooter training from a sheriff’s office in an attempt to improve campus security.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement about training faculty and staff members at Southeastern University on Dec. 16.
The program includes 132 hours of total training, including 100 hours of firearms training, background checks, drug tests and psychological evaluations.
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Once completed, staff members at the Lakeland campus would be permitted to carry concealed handguns.
“We are excited about this new program that will result in well trained staff being available on campus to rapidly respond to any active assailant threat,” Southeastern University President Kent Ingle said.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said his office would consider staff members who completed the training “special deputies,” according to ABC News.
Judd said the program would focus on preparing staff members for an active shooter situation and added that it’s the first program of its kind in the nation.
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