On Aug. 29, Kennesaw State police conducted a welfare check on a student in distress and discovered that the subject was unlawfully concealing a firearm and was threatening to “stack bodies.” The swift intervention of law enforcement and the steps they took to ensure the safety of the student body are laudable and worthy of recognition.
The vigilance of Kenneth Glover’s mother and the quick intervention by law enforcement are the reason KSU did not become the center of yet another national tragedy. It’s important to look at the lessons learned from averted crises so we can continue to prevent tragedy and get people the help they need.
Because most parents look at their children through rose-colored lenses, it took extreme valor and integrity for Glover’s mother to call the police to check on her son. She recognized the state of her son’s mental health, that he was behaving oddly, and vocalized her concerns to the proper authorities. This is a perfect example of how the mantra “see something, say something” rings true and has tremendous merit. Her actions not only potentially saved the lives of students but also may have saved her own son’s life and given him access to the help he needs.
Responders acted immediately upon receiving the information and took measures to contain the situation before it got out of hand. Counseling and Psychological Services was contacted, and per their assessment, he was committed for evaluation.
While many students were quick to criticize KSU Police for waiting until the next day to release information, it is important to recognize that they are bound by certain rules and regulations that dictate what information they can release, and when they can release it.
It’s important to remember that the primary role of any law enforcement entity is to protect and preserve the rights of all individuals, including those in custody. Federal and state regulations, HIPAA and KSU policy played a part in the delay of information.
Additionally, while it’s understandable that students want to know about a potential threat on campus, it is irresponsible to incite mass panic, particularly when they don’t have all the facts. KSU police are tasked with the responsibility of maintaining an atmosphere on campus that’s conducive to academic success.
Releasing the information immediately, particularly when the threat is contained, is antithetical to this mission and makes their job more difficult. They released information in as timely a manner as possible and when it was appropriate.
It does us no good as a student body to go down the rabbit hole of what may have happened. There’s enough speculation and criticism in any event that law enforcement is called to address. Instead, let’s breathe a collective sigh of relief and examine and learn from the tremendous success of a crisis averted.