Altoona Area School District police officers may soon be carrying AR15 semi-automatic patrol rifles after the school board approved a first reading of a policy change during Monday night’s meeting.

The board unanimously approved the first reading for an addition to the AASD Police Department firearms policy that would permit the AR15 to be carried by officers.

The policy change will be up for adoption during the 7 p.m. Jan. 17 school board meeting.

The policy change will enhance safety and security within the school district, said community relations director Paula Foreman.

The policy already authorizes officers to carry the following weapons and ammunition: Glock models 22 and 23 .40-caliber pistol/Federal .40-caliber 180 grain HST, Remington 870 12-gauge/OO buckshot 9 pellet and 1 oz. rifled slug and any revolver/pistol or ammunition cleared for duty by the range instructor/police director.

But the school district’s buildings have long hallways, Foreman said. “A handgun is not going to be as effective at stopping some as an patrol rifle would,” she said.

In the event of a threat or emergency situation, the patrol rifle gives officers the ability to better protect all AASD students and staff within the district, depending on the level of threat, Foreman said.

The proposed policy change would add a line under the Authorized Weapons and Ammunition policy to include “semi-automatic patrol rifle, AR15 platform approved by the Department Patrol Rifle Instructor. Personally owned patrol rifles are authorized for officers who have successfully completed the Patrol Rifle Operators Program.”

Foreman said the district proactively seeks ways to enhance the safety and security.

Annual training, certification and recertification is required by all AASD officers authorized to use weapons and there is certified weapons instruction within the AASD police services department as well, Foreman said.

The weapons are available to all officers approved and certified to use them, she said.

While not speaking on AASD’s plans, Altoona Police Chief Joe Merrill said patrol rifles have been added to patrol officer units around the country.

“I knew something like this was coming eventually,” he said.

“Most of the active shooters are carrying those types of weapons,” Bill Pfeffer, director of safety and security for the school district, told WTAJ. “So obviously when we respond to a situation or a threat we want to make sure that all our students, all our faculty, and all our visitors around this campus and our setting, we are one of the biggest school districts in the state, is equipped to deal with the situation at hand.”

Mirror staff writer Cati Keith can be reached at 814-946-7535.