Community Headlines

School district, law enforcement prioritize school safety

Posted: 9:16 AM Dec 27, 2012
Reporter: Andie Adams

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) – School District 51 and local law enforcement want to assure parents that they are making student safety a priority after the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.

The district has been meeting with the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, Grand Junction Police Department, Fruita Police Department, Palisade Police Department, Colorado State Patrol and the District Attorney’s Office to discuss additional safety measures, according to a joint statement.

Solutions to school safety include “prevention and target-hardening of schools,” coordinating a multi-agency response to threats, and additional training for teachers and staff.

Representatives will continue to meet to review a plan.

The statement says for schools to remain safe, the community must stay involved. In most school shootings, the gunman exhibits warning signs that can be reported to authorities, if someone in the community decides to act.

Law enforcement recommends residents to be vigilant and report suspicious activity or threats against local schools.