How Schools are Increasing Security for Safe Sporting Events – FOX 8 I-Team Report
The FOX 8 I-Team has revealed the extensive efforts required to keep families safe at high school sporting events as incidents of gunfire, fights, and other disturbances are becoming disturbingly common.
Just a few months ago, shots were fired near Euclid High School shortly after a football game ended, leaving five teens injured and one killed. In a separate incident on Cleveland’s east side, a post-game fight erupted, involving both kids and parents. These events highlight a growing need for enhanced security and strategic planning to maintain safety, not just on the field but in surrounding areas as well.
After the Euclid shooting, a teenage victim displayed his leg wound, recounting, “The bullet went in and went up. It happened so fast.” His father added, “You don’t expect those kinds of calls. Your kids need to come home safely.”
To understand how districts can address these safety issues, FOX 8 spoke with Dr. Ken Trump, president of National School Safety and Security Services, a Cleveland-based consulting firm. According to Dr. Trump, the issues seen in Northeast Ohio reflect a national trend of increasing violence at school events. He emphasized the need for school officials to get deeply involved in security planning. “We’re at a point where we need to treat school events with the same level of security as professional sports and entertainment venues, from ticket-taking to police presence,” he explained.
Cleveland City Councilman Richard Starr has seen the problem firsthand. He recently intervened to break up a fight after a high school football game that involved both students and parents. He expressed frustration over the lack of security personnel, calling it “disrespectful, unsafe, and a hazard waiting to happen.” He has since called on Cleveland’s school district leadership to prioritize safety measures.
In response, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District indicated they are developing a new fan code of conduct and have consequences in place for troublemakers. However, they did not announce any specific safety upgrades. City council members plan to hold a hearing to discuss these issues in the near future.
In Euclid, Police Chief Scott Meyer stated that the department has rolled out a comprehensive safety plan that includes neighborhood patrols around school events. He noted that recent games have taken place without incidents, though keeping order as crowds spill into public areas remains challenging. The Euclid police are also using grant funds to increase patrols and target gun-related threats.
Captain Mitch Houser explained that these additional efforts, supported by grant money, allow officers to patrol and quickly intervene to remove illegal weapons. “Two, three, four, five, six officers can work this a night and immediately impact the number of illicit weapons on the streets,” he said.
Dr. Trump also reminded parents that sporting events aren’t “free babysitters,” urging them to be involved and aware of their children’s activities. With violence spilling over beyond school grounds, he emphasized the necessity of robust security plans that extend far beyond the field.
