Hutsonville superintendent Julie Kraemer became a sworn officer for the ability to carry in her schools. (Photo: HPD/Facebook)
A school superintendent in Illinois decided that she was ready to everyday carry at her schools in Hutsonville. Of course, it’s not that easy. To carry in class she had to become a cop.
Hutsonville is fairly rural and if needed, first responders can be a long way away. That’s why superintendent Julie Kraemer decided to seek out law enforcement training to allow her to carry in schools. This way she knows the students and staff will have someone close by should she ever be needed.
“If somebody comes in to try to hurt my kids, we have something other than a stapler to throw at them. We’re no longer a soft target. We have some options,” Kraemer told Time. “I’m just going to be a superintendent that happens to also be a police officer.”
Kraemer, who already had a permit for concealed-carry, started training in January of this year, finishing in September. Her district has around 320 students and doesn’t have the budget to hire any school resource officers. Becoming a sworn law enforcement officer herself was the next best option.
She said she made the decision shortly after a nearby school had a gun scare. In late 2017 a student at Mattoon High School in Illinois produced a handgun and raised it to shoot another student. As he was aiming a math and physical education teacher, Angela McQueen, tackled him and wrestled his gun away.
“I think sometimes we sit back and think it’ll never happen here, it’ll never happen to us, it’s states away,” says Kraemer. “But that was really close to home.”
“I love all my kids, but if it comes to a situation where I’m walking down the hall and one of them is taking the lives of some of my other kids, then no, I won’t hesitate because of that,” she stated.
“I have to be able to protect my kids. If you work in education — I don’t care whether you’re a secretary, a bus driver, a superintendent, a teacher, or a principal — they’re your kids. I have 324 kids that come in every day that are my kids, and it matters what happens,” said Kraemer. “I hope this place goes another 20, 40, 60 years without it ever happening, but it pays to be prepared.”
See Also: Illinois Man Starts Local Armed Citizen Project for Women
Director of the Southern Illinois Criminal Justice Training Program Chuck Doan said that Kraemer was the first educator to get police training for school safety in at least 20 years.
“It is definitely not that common,” said Doan. “It’s important that we have people in our schools who can make a police response when necessary, whether that’s in the form of a police officer assigned by the department or someone like Julie.”
Maybe this will lead to an uptick in school staff seeking out similar training and similar qualifications. Time will tell if Kraemer is an anomaly or a pioneer.
This is a better solution than just arming teachers.
I THINK ANY TEACHER THAT HAS TRAINING AND A CONCEAL CARRY PERMIT SHOULD BE ABLE TO CARRY AT SCHOOL IF THEY CHOOSE !
As long as she is a “Gun Person” who can handle a gun, that’s great.
All too often those who want to join law enforcement as not a “Gun Person’, and they can do more harm than good!
I’ve been a public school principal for 8 years and a sheriff’s reserve deputy for over 5. My district will not allow me to carry during contract hours even though I am a qualified LEO.
Sad, the people in your district are idiots.
Why would you want to be a reserve cop? Don’t you get enough bullying and intimidating of the kids? Qualified LEO? Cops training cops is stupid training stupid.
Wow Andy Buckmichael, congratulations, yours is easily the stupidest comment I’ve read all day… I’ll bet your interactions with law enforcement in the past have been through your own stupid actions and you got caught so now you’re mad at all cops right? LOL idiot…
Just wondering? Does this person get two salaries, one for police and one for teaching?
Congratulations Ms. Kraemer!!!
I love her attitude. She actually loves “her” children by teaching them and protecting them. It’s the sacrifice that demonstrates the love.
That’s what I got from this as well. It’s a breath of fresh air to see someone from a school administration that’s ready and willing to take on that kind of responsibility and actually has a sense of duty.
Now this right here is “common sense” gun control…. prepare for the absolute worst, hope for the best. Being from Illinois myself I am glad to hear that someone has that mindset. Not saying Illinois is filled with gun grabbers, as contrary to popular belief we do have people who are devout 2A supporters. The vast majority of which just reside outside of Chicago.
Chicago isn’t all bad though… they just need another Al Capone phase to sort shit out. I would vote for him.