School Violence
The Greenfield Police Department is committed to making our schools as safe as possible. This is a team effort that includes the police, teachers, school administration, parents and the students. Our School Resource Officer works closely with the local High School.
We have increased the training and equipment of our patrol officers to create the ability to responded to Active Shooter incidents that may occur in the schools. This includes improving both our weapons and equipment. The purchase of Ballistic Shields, Rifle Armor, Remote Inspection Robot and other equipment has enabled our officers to respond to an incident at any school, equipped with the latest equipment.
We are also working with the administration of the local schools to review and improve our Emergency Action Plans, Awareness training, and to improve the coordination between responding public safety personnel and the school staff. As part of our public education program, we have included Internet links to more information regarding school violence.
In the last few years, a great deal of media attention has been focused on school shootings. This has led many teens to become concerned about their own safety, wondering whether such tragic violence could happen in their schools. However, in terms of risk for homicide, schools are about the safest place for teens-safer than their homes or their neighborhoods-and violent deaths at schools or school events are extremely rare.
Less than 1% of the murders of children and teens in the United States are school-related, and there is no evidence that school-related homicides are on the rise. You are much more likely to be struck by lightening than to be killed at your school. In the 1998-99 school year, a total of 34 children and teens were murdered on school property, at a school event, or on their way to and from school.1 More on School Violence...
As a service to our stakeholders, the SVRC assist schools in developing safe school plans. Analysis of a majority of these plans revealed that much of the crisis planning was done in a vacuum; that is without consultation with law enforcement, fire, medical, victim services, and other significant community agencies or organizations. Responding to the need to provide crisis management training for rural communities at the county level, the SVRC developed the Community Crisis Preparedness Workshop (CCPW). Learn more about the School Violence Resource Center.
We have increased the training and equipment of our patrol officers to create the ability to responded to Active Shooter incidents that may occur in the schools. This includes improving both our weapons and equipment. The purchase of Ballistic Shields, Rifle Armor, Remote Inspection Robot and other equipment has enabled our officers to respond to an incident at any school, equipped with the latest equipment.
We are also working with the administration of the local schools to review and improve our Emergency Action Plans, Awareness training, and to improve the coordination between responding public safety personnel and the school staff. As part of our public education program, we have included Internet links to more information regarding school violence.
United States Secret Service Safe School Initiative
As part of its mission to provide leadership and guidance in the prevention of instances of targeted violence, the National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) initiated a data-based research project to examine the incidents of school-based attacks. Since September 1999 NTAC staff have been conducting the Safe School Initiative, an operational study of 37 U.S. school shootings involving 41 perpetrators, that have occurred over the past 25 years. Learn more about the Safe School Initiative.School Violence & the News
School violence, which was little heard of until the 1999 Columbine, Colorado, school shooting in which 12 students and a teacher were killed and many others wounded, is in the headlines again. Most recently, there have been horrific shootings in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Colorado. After an incident of school violence, it's important for kids to feel like they can share their feelings, and to know that their fears and anxieties are understandable.Your School Violence Prevention, Safety & Security Resource
Access a school safety resource. This resource contains information for:- For Parents: Covers how to improve the general safety of schools, dealing with natural disasters and gang violence
- For Schools: Provides answers to common questions about gangs, violence and aggression in youth and how schools can deal with natural disasters.
- For Students: Helpful information for students on how to deal with common problems faced in school.
National Crime Prevention Council
Are kids still safe at school? NCPC's president and CEO, Alfonso E Lenhardt, and the Public Safety Advisor for ADT Security Services, Patrick Fiel, participated in interviews concerning the reality of school safety in America. You can contact us for more information.
School Violence Statistics
In the last few years, a great deal of media attention has been focused on school shootings. This has led many teens to become concerned about their own safety, wondering whether such tragic violence could happen in their schools. However, in terms of risk for homicide, schools are about the safest place for teens-safer than their homes or their neighborhoods-and violent deaths at schools or school events are extremely rare.Less than 1% of the murders of children and teens in the United States are school-related, and there is no evidence that school-related homicides are on the rise. You are much more likely to be struck by lightening than to be killed at your school. In the 1998-99 school year, a total of 34 children and teens were murdered on school property, at a school event, or on their way to and from school.1 More on School Violence...
School Violence Resource Center
The School Violence Resource Center (SVRC) understands that effective crisis management requires a multi-disciplinary approach utilizing a viable crisis management system. The "All Crisis" approach is most appropriate in this time of shrinking manpower and budgets.As a service to our stakeholders, the SVRC assist schools in developing safe school plans. Analysis of a majority of these plans revealed that much of the crisis planning was done in a vacuum; that is without consultation with law enforcement, fire, medical, victim services, and other significant community agencies or organizations. Responding to the need to provide crisis management training for rural communities at the county level, the SVRC developed the Community Crisis Preparedness Workshop (CCPW). Learn more about the School Violence Resource Center.