People are trying to save the job of a beloved 22-year teacher/reserve police officer in Southern California who has been placed on administrative leave by school officials for having his service firearm locked in a cabinet in his classroom.
School officials also took his badge and service pistol even though he is a much-loved teacher at the high school after it was discovered that he had his service firearm in a locked file cabinet. A tip to the principal led to the discovery of the firearm on campus.
According to a school district statement, “The teacher would not face any criminal penalty for carrying or possessing a firearm on school premises. Nonetheless, the district maintains a policy regulation that prohibits any employee, with the exception of the district’s Director of Safety and campus officers, from bringing firearms onto school premises.”
According to a petition statement, the teacher was a full-time police officer who became a Level 1 Reserve Officer with another police department “to continue teaching and help educate our students.”
“California Gun Laws states ‘a person may possess a firearm in a school zone when the person is a duly appointed peace officer, honorably retired police officer, or a security guard authorized to carry a concealed firearm under state law.’ A Level 1 Officer is recognized as a Duly Appointed Peace Officer. Not only has this teacher gone above and beyond in the classroom and risking their life protecting our city, he ran back into a war zone atmosphere on October 1, 2017 and saved many lives during the largest mass shooting in modern U.S history.”
So far, over 10,000 people have signed the online petition.