Area schools see increased police presence in wake of deadly Texas shooting

SOMERSET — In the wake of Tuesday's mass shooting at an elementary school in Texas, many area schools will see an increased police presence today.

"In Somerset and Somerset Berkley, the safety and well-being of our students and staff remain a top priority," said Superintendent Jeffrey Schoonover in a letter emailed to families on Wednesday morning. "To alleviate some of those immediate concerns, the Somerset Police Department will have police presence in each of our schools today."

Somerset police noted that the increased presence was just to reassure students and staff, "not in response to any identified threat."

Dighton and Rehoboth police departments posted similar messages to their respective Facebook pages. "Do not be alarmed to see DPD officers outside of our schools in the morning during drop off," wrote Dighton police. "We are sickened and saddened at what occurred in Texas today and want all students and staff to know that we are there for them always."

Swansea Police posted to their Facebook page that they will reassess their safety protocols. "The Swansea Police Department and the School Department regularly assess and review the safety plans in place for all schools," the post states. "We pray we will never have to put these plans into action but are confident in our ability to protect our children."

'We had the receipts': Prosecutor Zachary Hafer's one regret from the Jasiel Correia trial

Police Chief Edward J. Walsh reported that the Taunton Police Department will have a presence at city schools on Wednesday. According to a post on the TPD website, the increased presence is not due to any particular threat. "Police will be on hand as a precaution to help greet students, teachers, staff and parents during this difficult time."

Schoonover's message to families echoed this assurance that the schools and police have worked together to come up with a proactive safety plan. "We work very closely with the Somerset Police Department and Somerset Fire Department conducting various safety drills during the school year to ensure that students and staff know how to respond in the event of an incident or emergency," Schoonover said, nothing that they have "clear plans and procedures to deal with emergency situations," and that they review those plans annually.

Diman's threat assessment team

Andrew Rebello, principal at Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School, said the school launched a “threat assessment team” this year made up of teachers, administrators, security staff and members of the Fall River Police Department that meets “weekly or after any local or national event” to discuss safety measures at the school.

“This Team met to review our safety plans and ensure our building is secure after yesterday’s event,” he said.

Along with other measures, the school has an online, anonymous tip line where students can report potential safety concerns.

Thomas Aubin, superintendent at Westport Community Schools, stressed in a letter to the school community the role family and friends can play in spotting dangerous behaviors before they become threats. Perpetrators of violence like Tuesday’s shooting often post about their plans ahead of time on social media, he said.

“Consequently, the statement 'if you see something, say something' has never been more prescient,” he wrote.

Speaking to the Herald News, Aubin called for what he described as “common sense” gun laws to decrease the risk of school shootings.

“When Sandy Hook took place 10 years ago and meaningful legislation was not put in place, I became very cynical,” he said. “I fail to believe that we can’t uphold the Second Amendment and still keep our students safe.”

'As normal as possible' at Durfee

Matt Desmarais, principal at B.M.C. Durfee High School, said the school did not have an increased police presence on Wednesday but does have two school resource officers and about 12 security staff members at the school.

“We’re trying to keep it as normal as possible,” he said.

Like Aubin, he expressed frustration at the prevalence of school shootings. The U.S. is the only country where school shootings are such a pervasive problem, he pointed out.

“It’s really unfathomable that we’re still having this conversation,” he said. “School is supposed to be a sanctuary.”

On Tuesday, an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school barricaded himself inside a classroom, “shooting anyone that was in his way,” an official said Wednesday.

Officials say all of the victims were in the same classroom

The suspect, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, is dead.

School shootings: It's not just Uvalde, Texas — gunfire on school grounds is at historic high in the US

Before heading to the school, Ramos shot his grandmother, an official said.

Authorities said that the grandmother survived and was being treated, though her condition was not known.

Police and others responding to Tuesday's attack broke windows at the school in an effort to allow students and teachers inside to escape, Lt. Christopher Olivarez of the Texas Department of Public Safety said Wednesday on NBC’s “Today.”

Olivarez told CNN that all victims were in the same fourth-grade classroom at Robb Elementary School. Eventually, the shooter was killed by law enforcement.

Tuesday's assault at Robb Elementary School in the heavily Latino town of Uvalde was the deadliest shooting at a U.S. school since a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012.

'My son died at Sandy Hook': My heart bleeds for Texas as I relive Dylan's murder.

Families waited hours for word on their children. At the town civic center where some gathered, the silence was broken repeatedly by screams and wailing. “No! Please, no!” one man yelled as he embraced another man.

This story has been updated.

— With Associated Press reports

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Increased police presence Dighton, Somerset, Berkley in wake of TX shooting