School has unique security guard

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - A local school has a unique security guard that is unlike any other you've seen before.

"When visitors come into the school basically they get a message and the message is safety is important here," says Dexter Bailey, Assistant Technology Specialist at Emerson Academy.

Keeping out the dangers is a challenge for any school these days, but for visitors at the Emerson Academy of Dayton they have to go through one of the best security guards around.

He hasn't taken a day off in the nearly 6 years that the school has been in its current building, has a knack for spotting people who don't belong and is unfailingly polite.

"They come in and they're shocked at first but they always calm down and become relaxed," Bailey says.

Meet LG, better known as Lobby Guard.

More machine than man, the Lobby Guard is a must for all visitors.

Basically it scans your ID and runs an instant background check.

It also takes a picture and compares it to a criminal photo database. If a match comes up, administrators are notified immediately.

"It's comforting to know we can come to school and be safe and you don't have to worry about anybody that's not supposed to be in here coming into the building," Bailey says.

Not everyone is thrilled when they first come across the Lobby Guard.

"A lot of times they want to know why are you making me do this," says Office Administrator Debra Crampton. "It's for the safety of your children."

But in the wake of school shootings and threats, many have come to accept it.

It also keeps out child predators, but more than anything else, the lobby guard's job is to provide peace of mind.

"You do feel safer," Crampton says.

The Lobby Guard is at two other National Heritage Academy Schools, North Dayton School of Discovery and Pathways School of Discovery.