Ashland Police Department issues statement after Texas school shooting

ASHLAND, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Ashland Police Department is issuing a statement after the Texas elementary school shooting in an effort to speak to the community it serves and protects.

The department is continuing to work with the Southern Boone District and staffing for the city.

In a release, the department says their long-term planning efforts include staffing more than one School Resource Officer in the Southern Boone School District.

Current staffing levels do not allow for an officer to be assigned to the School District full-time as APD’s staffing assignments account for a one-day shift officer throughout the week. This assignment is occasionally supplemented by other officers during special events and maybe supplemented part of the week by a supervisor.

Beginning Monday, the department says they will be fully staffed.

The department will look to future funding options and grant opportunities to assist with hiring additional patrol officers, providing adequate equipment, and supplementing current training practices.