Tag Archives: School Resource Officer (SRO)

It’s Not About The Guns

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On Sunday, Breitbart posted an article about a recent incident at Brinell High School in Fagersta, Västmanland County Sweden. A teenager described as having a difficult upbringing attacked his fellow students with a sword. Swedish gun laws are restrictive, so this disturbed teen used a sword.

The article reports:

18-year-old Liam Nebel, a Swedish Swede has been officially detained by Västmanland District Court on Sunday on suspicion of murder and attempted murder after a sword attack at Brinell high school in Fagersta, Västmanland County Sweden on Friday. Authorities have now confirmed that there was one fatality in the attack, a 17-year-old girl. Three teenage boys were also injured, two seriously.

Police believe the slain girl was not a targeted victim but was rather killed at random, reports German newspaper Die Welt.

Suspect Nebel’s defence lawyer said that while their client had not confessed to police, he had nevertheless not contested the murder charge. He did, however, contest the additional charges of attempted murder. The teen, who is understood to have a difficult upbringing and who was placed into a foster home last year over “extensive” failings of the home environment was a current pupil at Brinell high school and consequently was able to access the site on the day of the attack with his student card.

The article notes that quick action by the police may have saved lives. The police had the situation under control within ten minutes of the initial telephone call. A School Resource Officer with a gun could have had the situation under control in less than two minutes.

A Bad Week For Fairfax County Schools

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On Saturday, WTOP News reported three legal cases against Fairfax County School employees.

The article reports:

Three Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) employees were arrested or charged in unrelated criminal investigations announced by Fairfax County police this week, including allegations involving inappropriate contact with a student, embezzlement and theft.

The most serious offense involves a Langley High School teacher accused of inappropriate conduct with a student.

Police said the investigation began June 2 after concerns were reported to the School Resource Officer (SRO). Detectives later determined that Matthew Thorsen, 38, from Reston, a math teacher at Langley High School, had engaged in unlawful and inappropriate contact with a student.

He was arrested June 4 and charged with three counts of Indecent Liberties by Custodian and one count of Using a Communication Device to Solicit a Minor. He is being held without bond. FCPS placed him on administrative leave after being notified of the allegations, according to police.

…In a separate case, police charged a Hayfield Secondary School Finance Technician for embezzling more than $40,000 from the school.

…A third investigation involved the alleged theft of woodworking tools from Chantilly High School.

Police said school administrators alerted the SRO on May 29 after learning an employee, Trevor Papavasiliou, 34, from Culpeper, had taken $1,200 worth of tools from a woodworking classroom.

He turned himself in June 4.

Following the investigation, Papavasiliou was charged with Grand Larceny. The school has suspended him from his position.

The cases are unrelated, but Fairfax County police announced the trio of arrests and charges involving school employees on the same day.

Thank you to the police for keeping our schools safe and dealing with employee misconduct. This article illustrates the vital role that School Resource Officers play.