A local sheriff's deputy escorting a group of fifth-grade students on a field trip to the Fox Theater in Atlanta said he was told to stand outside because he was carrying his service weapon, reports WSB-TV.
Monday, Sergeant Jack Gilroy was assigned to escort 60 fifth-grade students and their teachers from Stark Elementary School to the Fox Theater for a field trip.
Butts County Sheriff Gary Long said it's standard procedure for an on-duty deputy to escort kids on all sporting events and field trips. "It gives a sense of security to parents at work or home," Long said.
Gilroy said a Fox Theater security officer asked him to leave the building or store his service weapon in his vehicle.
"How would the owner of the Fox explain if a shooting happened and here's a Butts County deputy sitting inside the theater without a weapon?" Long said.
Gilroy decided to keep his weapon and stand outside the theater for nearly three hours.
A Fox Theater spokesperson told Channel 2 Action News their policy allows on-duty, uniformed law enforcers to enter the theater with their weapon. They released a statement that said, "We plan to review our policies with the staff to ensure that procedures are clear moving forward."
Gilroy said the security company called him to apologize.
The Fox Theater says law enforcement need to check in with security when they enter.
