Security Guards Sentimental Toward Students

Eleny Nava and Aidan Brown • October 10, 2023

Officers at Banneker are responsible for ensuring security procedures are followed.

Students often think that the role of security guards at schools is to break up fights and stop students from skipping; however, students at Banneker are relatively calm and self-collected where there are rarely fights and everyone comes to school with the purpose of learning and attending classes. Even though Banneker doesn’t experience the rowdiness compared to other schools, the officers still have the same purpose. Additionally, they also have other tasks they need to do to fulfill their duties.

Officer Brown, an officer who has been working at Banneker for two years, said, “We have to perform weapon screening, be on lunch duty, check the bathrooms, and make sure the hallways are clear during class time.”

So regardless of how students perform during school, the security guard officers at Banneker have similar responsibilities to other security guards in other places. They go to a training every year for five days straight where they learn how to utilize the machines and become first line defense.

Sergeant Cole, who’s been working at Banneker for over 10 years, said “If something were to happen, we would be the first to go.”

It usually takes up to one year to become a licensed security guard officer. The process may look differently depending what type of officer, where the security officer resides, and where they plan to work. The officers at Banneker all went through similar processes to become an officer.

The security guards at Banneker are contracted, which means that an external company provides the security services at Banneker through an arrangement with DCPS.

Sergeant S. Cole said, “I follow orders from Ms. Berger and since I am the sergeant, I direct the other security guard officers what to do.”

Sergeant S. Cole and officer A. Lyons have been working at Banneker the longest. The other security guard officers have recently started working here at the new Banneker building.

Officer R. Brown, who worked in previous high schools within the district, said, “I enjoy working here because I like the kids and there aren’t any fights here.”

Officer A. Lyons, who’s been working at Banneker for 10 years, said that if he were placed to work at another setting, he wouldn’t work as a security guard officer anymore. “If I had to go work at another school, I would leave my shirt here,” said Lyons.