EAU CLAIRE Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – Many of us may be wondering what is being done to keep our kids safe. Eau Claire Police Officer Tom Xiong spends his days making sure everyone at NorthStar Middle School makes it home safe each night.
“Our goal here at the school here as the school resource officer is to ensure the safety of our kids here and the staff here along with making sure that, you know, they just have a safe learning environment to come to school to.”
He says kids and staff prepare for the worst. Doing drills to hide if there is a threat in or outside the school.
“All the kids and staff are trained to go behind any spots in the classroom where it can be concealment for them from the intruder and they’re trained to stay there until there released by law enforcement officials.”
Drills are not the only things law enforcement’s doing to keep kids safe. Wisconsin attorney general Josh Kaul says the state department of justice has provided grants for schools to harden their physical infrastructure.
It’s also developed a website “speak up, speak out” allowing people to anonymously report potential threats.
“It’s a way for students or members of the public, parents, anyone who might have information to contact the department of justice and have that information relayed to the local school district and, if it involves potentially criminal action, to the local police department.”
Prior to becoming Cornell police chief, Glenn Rehberg worked in Wisconsin DOJ’s school safety office. He says school shooters often voice their plans before carrying them out.
And even if you do not hear a direct threat, there are other indicators.
“A person with an inappropriate fascination with school shooters or school violence, someone who inappropriately researches these events that have happened before, someone who makes comments of performing such an event.”
He says officers and school staff can be trained on what to look for. And while Cornell’s schools do not have a resource officer, the district’s superintendent, Paul Schley, says his staff has a close relationship with Cornell PD.
“They know our students, they know our buildings, they know where to go, you know, where the hideout spots in our building, and they also have access. So, they have keys where they can get in if needed whether it’s for a medical emergency or any other type of emergency.”