Rochester, N.Y. - Metal detectors are a way of life for secondary students in the Rochester City School District. Some, like Antonio Lopez, like the extra security.
Lopez, a student at East High School, says he wouldn't feel safe unless students were scanned each day. He says it keeps out weapons and other sharp objects that could be dangerous.
But security officers in schools are facing new challenges. Something as innocent-looking as a pen could have a hidden knife. Some belt buckles have compartments where things like razor blades can be hidden. Brass knuckles can also conceal knives.
That's why metal detectors and scanners at city schools are set on the highest levels. They can pick up everything from metal and plastic to liquids that could pose a danger.
It's much like at the airport where settings are high. There's a reason for this extra security.
These hidden weapons might not be detected if not for alert security officers and sophisticated scanners.
This isn't just a challenge for city schools but also suburban schools. While most schools in suburbs like Greece don't have metal detectors or scanners, they are on alert to make sure no weapons are brought into schools.
School resource officers, who are police officers, rely on tips from students in school to tell them what is happening. Information from a tip helped security officers find a female student who had brought a knife to school.
They are also able to learn about things like this ahead of time. Ed Knaak is a former Rochester Police Officer and Director of Security in the Greece School District. He says tips to the schools hotline have been extremely helpful. Callers can leave information about dangerous situations or threats of weapons.
The calls allows security to contact police and search a student's home before the weapon can be brought to school.
If students in the city or suburban schools bring a weapon to school, they face not only possible arrest, but long term suspension.
Rochester Police Officer Moses Robinson works full-time inside East High School. He says while the perception is that metal detectors means schools are dangerous, the opposite is true.
He says not only does the scanning keep students and schools safer, but it also makes students think twice before trying to bring any kind of weapon, concealed or not, to school.
