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03/01/2018 11:00 PMIn the wake of the tragic school shooting that left 17 people dead in Parkland, Florida, the East Haven Police Department (EHPD) and Public Schools have been working to spread awareness about school safety, and what can be done to prevent a tragedy like that from happening locally.
The shooting in Florida took place on Feb. 14, and the following day, EHPD increased police presence at all of the schools and stopped by classrooms to engage staff and students in discussions.
At the schools, officers talked about lockdown drills and how it’s important to always practice them as if it was a real-life scenario. Officers also discussed the importance of students speaking up if/when they suspect a student or loved one is capable of similar behavior, and services available to students if they’re feeling disconnected or depressed.
Lt. Joseph Murgo said the response was positive. Officers also spoke to students and parents that day to see if they had any questions or concerns.
“A lot of students had questions, not necessarily regarding the incident itself, but regarding what that meant on a local level,” Murgo said, adding that students wanted to know how to report other students if they felt those students were disconnected or depressed, and how often the EHPD makes their presence known at schools.
Murgo also said that parents may not have realized how much the EHPD is already involved with the schools, such as conducting walkthroughs and participating in mock lockdown drills. He said the visits on Feb. 15 weren’t meant to show the department was going increase its presence, but to reaffirm they’re already there.
“We want everyone to know we’re approachable, and we want to make everybody as safe as possible when they’re at one of the safest places that they should be anyway,” Murgo said.
If a student does have a concern about another student, Murgo said students should start with confiding in a teacher. He also said there are officers assigned to each school that are responsible to stop by each day to engage with the students, and if students see an officer on-site, they’re approachable.
“Just say ‘Hi,’” Murgo said, “It doesn’t always have to be a complaint against a student, but just say ‘Hi,’ introduce yourself, approach them.”
According to a joint press release from EHPD and the Board of Education (BOE), EHPD will continue to train with every school in town to ensure the safety of staff and students. Residents are encouraged to get in touch with the Police Department if they have any reason to believe someone they know either personally or on social media has alluded to potentially dangerous behavior. Murgo said that students or parents can always reach out to EHPD via Facebook messenger or by phone at 203-468-3820.
“We just want people to know that if you see something, say something,” Murgo said, “There’s no such thing as a stupid call.”
The press release also included a statement from Superintendent of Schools Erica Forti. She said schools work closely with the EHPD on an ongoing basis to keep our schools a safe.
“As we grieve and feel deeply for these victims and their families, let us remain committed to practicing the safety and security procedures in place at all our schools. If your child ever expresses a concern for a threat made or other frightening behavior, please let your school principal know. Together we will continue to work toward keeping our school community safe and secure,” Forti said in the release.
The BOE may put additional safety measures in place at the schools. A Special Meeting of the BOE has been scheduled for Monday, March 5 at 6 p.m. in the boardroom of East Haven High School.
The two topics on the agenda are “Discussion of and possible action on hiring a security consultant” and “Discussion of and possible action on hiring armed guards at each school until the end of 2017/2018 school year.”