security | ALXnow

Alexandria City High School boosts internal security after fights prompt early winter closure

Published January 17, 2025 at 11:35AM

Alexandria City High School, Jan. 6, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

After reverting to virtual learning two days before winter break due to multiple fights, Alexandria City High School fully reopened with extra security guards and new safety measures at both high school campuses.

The additions include extra security guards at the ACHS King Street and Minnie Howard campuses, new security protocols at weapons screenings, more hallway monitoring, security duty stations in high-traffic areas and increased lunch supervision, according to an email from the Alexandria City Public Schools to ALXnow.

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Alexandria police want $20K to monitor crime in real-time

By James Cullum

Published April 18, 2024 at 10:45AM

Image via McEnearney

The Alexandria Police Department is asking City Council to fund an incentive program to help it monitor crime in real-time.

Council will consider the release of $20,000 to help create the Alexandria Real-Time Information Center (ARTIC) at its meeting on April 24.

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ACPS says long lines at high school are part of adjustments to new security measures

By Vernon Miles

Published May 16, 2023 at 3:30PM

The Alexandria City High School marquee (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) said long lines to get into Alexandria City High School (ACHS) are part of the growing pains as the system adjusts to new security measures.

Earlier this year, ACPS approved new security measures including metal detectors and handheld wand devices. The security measures were in response to several security issues at the school in recent years. Earlier this year, a teacher at ACHS’ Minnie Howard Campus seized a handgun from a student.

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Alexandria City Council wants to incentivize locals and businesses to get private security cameras

By James Cullum

Published April 27, 2023 at 3:45PM | Updated April 27, 2023 at 4:11PM

Alexandria City Hall sign (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Personal security cameras, speed cameras in school zones, summer youth employment programs and eviction prevention funding are just a few of the final additions included in the fiscal year 2024 budget by the Alexandria City Council on Tuesday.

Council approved funding a $20,000 program to encourage businesses and homeowners with a “small incentive” to set up security cameras to deter crime, as well as increase their coordination with the Alexandria Police Department.

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Pilot for metal detectors in schools approved by Alexandria School Board

By James Cullum

Published February 3, 2023 at 1:30PM | Updated February 3, 2023 at 2:23PM

Advanced metal detectors will be used for a pilot program in two Alexandria City Public Schools locations as part of a pilot program (via ACPS)

Two Alexandria City Public Schools will be getting metal detectors before the end of this school year.

On Thursday night, the School Board voted 7-0 (Board Chair Meagan Alderton and Member Christopher Harris were not present) to approve the process for “advanced weapons abatement technology” to go into operation at two unnamed ACPS schools in May.

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Metal detectors not under consideration within Alexandria City Public Schools

By James Cullum

Published October 26, 2021 at 3:30PM | Updated October 29, 2021 at 9:34PM

The Alexandria City High School marquee (staff photo by James Cullum)

Metal detectors are not being considered at Alexandria City Public Schools.

After a rocky start to the school year with multiple students caught bringing weapons to Alexandria City High School, the issue has been publicly raised more than a few times in recent weeks.

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Tenants and Workers United upset by City Council restoration of school resource officer program

By Rick Horner

Published October 14, 2021 at 3:45PM

The Alexandria City Council’s reversal on a decision to reallocate funds meant for school resource officers toward mental health programs has upset those who fought for the move.

The council voted four to three to temporarily restore the program after several complaints by parents about violent encounters involving their children in Alexandria City Public Schools since the beginning of the 2021-22 school year. This move was a reversal of the decision made by the council in May 2021 to end the SRO program in favor of school-based mental health programs.

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BREAKING: Video shows brawl at Alexandria City High School cafeteria just two days after school starts

By James Cullum

Published August 27, 2021 at 1:20PM | Updated August 27, 2021 at 5:16PM

A video has surfaced of a brawl Thursday (August 26) in the cafeteria of Alexandria City High School (ACHS). While the police weren’t called, it was one of two fights broken up that day, according to sources.

Caution: The following video contains disturbing behavior.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published July 30, 2021 at 3:30PM | Updated July 30, 2021 at 3:51PM

Alexandria Police cruiser (staff photo by James Cullum)

What an absorbing week in Alexandria.

Just as the ball gets rolling with reopening and loosened restrictions, the pandemic rears its ugly head. With coronavirus transmission levels climbing, Alexandria is once again recommending that residents go back to wearing face masks indoors.

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Alexandria man caught with gun at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport checkpoint

By James Cullum

Published July 19, 2021 at 10:45AM

At Gravelly Point, a man in a folding chair reads a book as planes land outside Reagan National Airport (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

An Alexandria man was caught trying to get past a security checkpoint with a .38 caliber handgun and seven bullets at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Friday, July 18.

The man had his weapon confiscated and now faces upward of $10,000 in federal financial civil penalties.

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Alexandria School Board Approves Memorandum of Understanding with Police Department

By James Cullum

Published November 2, 2020 at 1:30PM

The Alexandria School Board last Thursday approved a revised bi-annual memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Alexandria Police Department to provide school resource officers in the city’s public schools.

Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr. also said that all Alexandria City Public Schools employees will get racial diversity training.