USC requests permission to arm school police
Upper St. Clair School District is requesting court permission to permit its school police officers to carry firearms.
In a petition filed on Nov. 11 in the Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, the district is seeking to hire Jason Remmy as a third school police officer, and to have permission for him and current school police officers Joseph D. Conners and Corrin C. Culhane to carry firearms. District officials indicated that Remmy was qualified for the job and had passed the necessary background checks.
Upper St. Clair Superintendent Dr. Patrick O’Toole said that the district’s officers, unlike security guards, have the same training as municipal police officers. Traditionally, Upper St. Clair’s school police officers have not carried guns, and according to Dr. O’Toole, they are not anticipating any changes to the present school police weapons practice.
“But for preparedness purposes, we now complete the court petitioning process with school police officers at the time they are hired,” said Dr. O’Toole.