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Board committee approves MOU allowing off‑duty Fayetteville officers to carry firearms on school property
Summary
Cumberland County Schools accepted a memorandum of understanding with the Fayetteville Police Department clarifying that off‑duty, sworn officers in good standing may carry concealed firearms on school property in compliance with state law; officers remain under agency authority and liability.
The auxiliary services committee on Oct. 7 approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Cumberland County Schools and the Fayetteville Police Department that authorizes off‑duty sworn officers to carry concealed firearms on district property, consistent with state law.
A presenter explained the MOU specifies that only sworn officers in good standing who meet their agencies’ firearm‑qualification standards may carry; they must keep weapons concealed and secure and identify themselves and notify school administration and on‑duty school resource officers if an incident occurs. The presenter emphasized, “These officers operate under the authority and liability of their home agencies, not as employees of Cumberland County Schools.”
Board members asked whether the MOU applied only to Fayetteville Police or to other local agencies such as the sheriff’s office and Hope Mills Police; staff clarified that the presented MOU was with the Fayetteville Police Department but that state law allows other sworn officers in good standing to carry if their agencies authorize it.
The committee approved the MOU by motion and second. Staff said the purpose is to put the statutory practice in writing so administrators clearly understand processes when off‑duty officers are present on campus.
