Weapon detectors added to entry at SPS events

SIKESTON — Since last school year’s Sikeston Jamboree, another layer of security has been added to Sikeston Public Schools Stadium and the Sikeston Field House.

According to the Sikeston Public Schools, this school year, which started on Aug. 20, everyone who enters the SPS Stadium will now be required to walk through weapon detectors.

Sgt. Tyler Rowe, Sikeston Department of Public Safety public information officer and SPS school resource officer, said this will be the new standard procedure for future SPS Stadium and Field House events. The new procedure began with the Aug. 23 Sikeston Jamboree at SPS Stadium.

“With the continued safety of everybody that comes through the campus, the weapon detectors will be used,” Rowe said. 

Rowe said the detectors were also used during basketball games at the Field House last year.

“These are an open-gate system and are very easy for us to operate,” Rowe said. “Anybody who comes through with a bag or item in their bag, they can just proceed on through as if they were just to be walking in as normal.

Rowe continued: “It doesn’t matter if it’s a backpack, diaper bag or purse; that person can just leave it on their backs and walk through normally. Only thing is that we ask you take the bag and place it in the center of your body when you walk through.”

Rowe said even though anyone can walk through with their bags, their bags can still be search by officers.

“It’s important that everyone that walks through the detectors with a bag is subject to search,” Rowe said. “All bags are subject to search that do come in.”  

Rowe said this is in conjunction with DPS’ ongoing efforts with Sikeston Public Schools to add a new layer of safety for students, staff and patrons.

Rowe said everything went smoothly at the Aug. 23 jamboree.

“We will also be using these for all home football games at the Stadium and the Field House once again this year,” Rowe said.

Rowe explained the importance of the weapon detectors.

“If you think about it, any major sporting event you go to or any concert you go to at a venue, metal detectors and weapon detectors are becoming more prevalent in a lot of places including schools or even hospitals,” Rowe said. “So this is just to continue the increase of our school’s safety and to let people have peace of mind when they do step foot on our campus.”

According to Rowe, DPS and the district also used the weapon detectors for the first stadium event in May for the high school graduation which was moved to the Field House due to inclement weather in the forecast.

“The ones that we used during basketball season last year are different than these now,” Rowe said. “They are similar, but they are just an upgraded version from the ones we had during last year’s basketball season at the Field House.”