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MONROEVILLE, Pa. (AP) — A western Pennsylvania judge has denied a school district’s request to create its own armed police force for all of its schools.
The Allegheny County judge issued an opinion Thursday saying it’s “not a good idea” for the Gateway School District to implement an independent, private 11-officer police force. He says more thought needs to be put into the proposition and more training needs need to be developed.
The judge says giving the officers full police power can lead to abuses.
District solicitor Bruce Dice says he expects the board to appeal. He says whether Judge Timothy O’Reilly thinks it’s a good idea is “none of his business.”
The district had voted 7-2 to authorize the petition’s presentation and hired 11 officers in August.
The school board will meet Tuesday.