Off-duty Fayetteville police officers are officially allowed to carry firearms on Cumberland County public school property, according to a memorandum of understanding approved by the Cumberland County Board of Education last week.
The board first considered the agreement between the Fayetteville Police Department and school board at a committee meeting on Oct. 7, where the motion passed 3-0. The item appeared on the agenda for the full board’s Oct. 14 meeting for formal acknowledgment.
District officials said the agreement, brought forward by Superintendent of Auxiliary Services Kevin Coleman, is intended to strengthen campus safety and clarify confusion among law enforcement agencies about who is authorized to carry weapons on school grounds.
“The purpose is to strengthen safety across our campuses,” Coleman told board members during the Oct. 7 committee meeting. “Only sworn officers in good standing who meet firearm qualifications and standards are permitted under this MOU [memorandum of understanding]. They must carry identification, keep their weapon concealed and secure, and act only if necessary to protect life.”
Coleman added that off-duty officers would act under the authority and liability of their home agencies, not as employees of the school district.
Board member Greg West supported the intent of the policy but questioned whether the agreement was necessary, noting that North Carolina law already allows sworn officers to carry firearms on school property while acting in their official capacity.
“If it’s already state law, an MOU seems redundant or confusing,” West said.
Coleman responded that the agreement simply reiterates state law and puts expectations in writing for clarity after Fayetteville police raised the issue. The measure passed with unanimous support.
Officials clarify memorandum details
The memorandum outlines key points around the scope of authority, conditions to carry a firearm, and eligibility of the officers covered under the agreement. These include:
- Only sworn FPD officers may carry one firearm while off duty on school grounds.
- Off-duty officers must identify themselves to on-duty law enforcement and make them aware of their concealed firearm as soon as they arrive on campus.
- Officers cannot consume or be under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances.
- Off-duty officers who use their firearm in response to minor offenses are acting as private citizens, not in their official police role. Officers should discharge their weapon only in a “law enforcement emergency or critical incident,” in which their action is necessary to “prevent serious bodily injury on school property.”
- Off-duty officers cannot use their weapon for school discipline purposes.
According to Coleman, the Fayetteville Police Department requested the agreement to clarify expectations for off-duty officers. He added in a follow-up email to CityView that there was “no specific incident that prompted the agreement.”
“The memorandum of understanding simply reaffirms that off-duty law enforcement officers, when properly identified, are permitted to carry their service weapons at school-sponsored events in accordance with state and federal law,” Coleman said in an email.
“The intent is to provide clarity and ensure consistent understanding among school staff and law enforcement partners.”
Coleman also confirmed that the memorandum of understanding does not introduce any new procedures beyond what state law allows. School administrators and law enforcement officers continue to coordinate to ensure all off-duty officers are properly identified at school events.
Coleman said any weapon-related incident involving an individual who is not authorized to possess a firearm on campus is immediately reported to law enforcement.
“Appropriate action is then taken by law enforcement in coordination with school officials to ensure the safety of students and staff,” he said.
CityView has reached out to the Fayetteville Police Department for further details on what prompted the request, and the department had not responded as of Monday afternoon.
State law on firearms on school property
Under state statute G.S. 14-269.2, civilians are prohibited from possessing weapons on school property in North Carolina, but the law exempts law enforcement officers acting in the discharge of their duties. The new memorandum of understanding outlines expectations in Cumberland County Schools for off-duty officers, including identification and coordination with on-duty school resource officers if an incident occurs.
West said during the meeting on Oct. 7 that he supported the policy’s intent but wondered about its broader application.
“I’m fine with the concept and the reasoning behind it,” West said, “but would we not consider something similar with Hope Mills PD and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office?”
Coleman clarified that the agreement reflects existing state law, so any law enforcement officer of another agency in Cumberland County is allowed to carry their weapon, given that they fit the other requirements in the memorandum of understanding.
“If Hope Mills or the sheriff comes on campus, the same would apply to them as well,” Coleman said.
Education reporter Dasia Williams can be reached at dwilliams@cityviewnc.com.
