Bibb Co. Schools Police Chief Plans To Improve School Safety and Security

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Bibb County schools’ top cop is officially back on the job and just finished his first week as the school district’s new police chief.

“This has been an exciting first week,” Chief Russell Bentley said.

Bentley has more than 25 years of experience. He worked as Bibb County schools’ police chief for seven years before retiring back in 2009. He says he is personally invested in keeping these schools safe.

“I have a child that I want to have the same opportunity that I had in this system to grow, to learn and to do that in a safe and secure environment,” he said.

Bentley was working at Safe Havens International which is the same non-profit organization that audited the school district earlier last month. It released a report suggesting ways the school district can improve its emergency procedures and safety regulations. He plans to use that experience at his new job.

“That has given me a national perspective of what are those best practices that we can use in the preparedness process of developing safe and secure environments,” Bentley said.

Especially when it comes to the safety of students and faculty. 41 NBC asked Bentley about several recent incidents involving students fighting and bring weapons on campus at Bibb County schools. He said he has a plan of action.

“The emphasis of the school district is to meet those challenges that present themselves to our students that might come and act inappropriately,” he said. “Our job is to meet those students where they are and to assist them in getting back on target, learning, growing and moving forward.”

He’s also calling on parents and the community to step up and help make the Bibb County School District the best it can be.

“Together we will strive to provide an opportunity that’s safe and secure for their students to learn and for our teachers to teach.”

Bentley is looking into current school safety initiatives and figuring out ways to improve them. His plan is to come up with a long term strategy to enhance the safety and security in our schools.