IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. -- The Iredell County Sheriff's Office is equipping elementary schools with portable ballistic shields to protect students.
Sheriff Darren Campbell said close to 20 of the shields will be placed in pre-designated locations in the school for responding officers to use in a worst case scenario.
"It just basically increases the survivability rate if you were to have an active shooter," Campbell said.
The sheriff's office used $45,000 of drug dealer money to make the purchase.
Campbell said deputies have conducted more than 27,000 school checks, but there are not assigned school resource officers in elementary schools like there are in middle and high schools. The shields would be one more added layer of protection in an emergency.
"You've got to be concerned with, and you've got to be prepared, and I'd much rather be proactive than reactive," Campbell added.