CAMDEN COUNTY, Ga. – An operation was developed and conducted to address potential safety and security threats that could be faced by schools in Camden County, officials said.
Camden County Emergency Management Agency worked with Camden County Schools to carry out Operation Guardian 2022, the Camden County Board of Commissioners said in a news release Tuesday.
According to county officials, the operation included taking comprehensive formal surveys of all 12 schools in the district. The survey tested for weaknesses in school security and current policies. The operation also evaluated physical security, policies and plans to test the security of each building. For example, the operation looked at how easy it is for a person to get inside the school without having their ID checked.
“The school is going to work on these issues, and we’re going to reengage were going to continue the dialogue continue the process and the operation will be ongoing,” said Camden County Emergency Management Agency Director Chuck White.
Guardian 2022 was supported by the following agencies and organizations: Camden County Emergency Management Agency, Georgia Emergency Management Agency, Camden County Sheriff’s Office, Camden County Fire Rescue, Kingsland police and fire departments, St. Marys police and fire departments, and Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay.
“We took all those law enforcement public safety officers, and we combined them with the United States Navy anti-terrorism folks that do security day in and day out but have a different level of training and view in the world they operate in,” White said.
There has been a new urgency to ensure the safety of students and faculty in schools in light of the tragedy in Uvalde, Texas. It’s a heavy topic for Lori Bragg whose middle schooler asked for a bulletproof backpack this fall.
“My little boy asked me to buy him a Kevlar backpack,” she said.
As a parent, Bragg said, that made her feel “scared.”
News4JAX spoke with a few parents at Camden Middle School. For the most part, parents are looking forward to the operation continuing in the future and are grateful that the county is taking measures to protect schools.