Local News

Law Enforcement Agencies Always Proactive In Protecting Schools

DeWitt County Sheriff Jered Shofner has been very active since being elected into the Sheriff's position to prepare his department and local schools in the event a person armed should enter a local school building.

While plans for an even like this are always being modified, he explains they do have a general strategy in place. He says the general strategy can be summed up into his "5 D's". They are deny, deter, detect, delay and defeat any violence in the schools. He explains denial is not what many people may think it is. It is ridding the mentality that things like that cannot happen in your community.

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When it comes to deterring violence in our local schools, the Sheriff believes making them a hard target is very important. He credits the Clinton Police Department for anytime school is in session, there is an armed officer on the site. He feels that goes a long way in deterring anyone from entering the school armed.

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Detecting problems before they escalate into violent acts comes back on the importance of the role of the community in these situations. The Sheriff says the key to keeping these situations from happening is family members or friends recognizing someone is suffering from some emotional issues and telling someone about it.

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Since the Columbine shooting in Colorado, Sheriff Shofner says law enforcement's strategy towards school violence has changed dramatically. He says schools have gotten much safer. He says schools are now designed to delay access to the school buildings. He also says law enforcement's strategy in defeating criminals has changed as well. He says when Columbine happened, the strategy was to surround the building for the people to not escape. He says now law enforcement agencies are instructed to enter the building and eliminate the threat.

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