Two members of the University of Central Arkansas Police Department traveled to the U.S. Virgin Islands to conduct training on safety and security skills for the St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John School Districts. Capt. Justin Tapley and Lt. Jamie Booth trained school security known as school monitors on defensive tactics, use of force, responding to an active-shooter, proper baton use and handcuffing during the two weeks of training.
“The training went great! Their school security personnel were eager to learn and very appreciative of the training,” said Tapley.
Tapley is a 22-year veteran of the UCAPD and currently serves as the standards and training commander. Booth has worked for UCAPD for more than 10 years and is the patrol services division commander for UCAPD. The two officers were invited to conduct the training by former UCA professor and retired police officer, Dr. Johnny Purvis, who is a consultant to the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Education.
“I approached Capt. Tapley because I really needed someone who is an instructor in self-defense and baton training,” said Purvis. “We hope to build on the relationships made. We’ve been invited back to assist the [U.S. Virgin Islands] Department of Education. The monitors are requesting that we come back.”
Tapley asked that a second officer, Boothe, assist in the training because of the number of school monitors the district wanted to train. Of the approximate 100 school monitors in all three school districts, 81 participated in the professional development training with Tapley and Booth that was held in August. Some monitors were either still on vacation or in hazardous materials training in Alabama. The two may conduct additional training in 2017, but no plans have been finalized.