Mar. 13, 2026 – Hoover, Ala. – Yesterday’s tragic incidents on a college campus and at a preschool underscore the importance of preparing for such attacks, according to the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO). The following statement may be attributed to NASRO executive director Mo Canady:
The incidents at Old Dominion University and Temple Israel emphasize the risks students of all ages continue to face in places where they should be safe.
We recommend that all educational institutions, programs, and facilities assess their safety plans and ensure that those responsible for protecting students receive extensive training. This includes specific instruction on response to active assailants for sworn law enforcement officers and professional school security officers. Such preparations are necessary for all educational settings, regardless of the age of students. Response plans should be comprehensive, preparing schools for any type of weapon, including vehicles. Law enforcement officers and other security professionals who serve educational facilities must be prepared to respond directly to threats and end those threats immediately, without assistance.
In addition, appropriate active assailant drills are essential in all educational settings, from preschool to higher education. These should be held at regular intervals and should include input and collaboration from local emergency management agencies and first responders. Such exercises ensure that everyone knows how to react appropriately in the event of an attack. Guidance for drills can be found at Best Practice Considerations for Armed Assailant Drills in Schools, including engaging in simple discussion-based exercises prior to conducting drills and notifying participants in advance. Equally important is assuring that all people on any campus know how to recognize and report suspicious activity.
About NASRO
NASRO is a nonprofit organization for school-based law enforcement officers, school administrators and school security/safety professionals working as partners to protect students, school faculty and staff, and the schools they attend. NASRO’s national offices are in Hoover, Alabama. The organization was established in 1991. For more information, visit www.nasro.org.
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