Police chiefs across Beaver County consulting with leaders concerning mass shootings
It’s the headline that just keeps repeating. Mass shootings from Texas to Indiana and even in Pennsylvania in just 2022.
“It’s more important now with the rise in gun violence in our nation to understand how these dynamics happen, if we can stop them beforehand,” said Chief Ron Leindecker with New Sewickley Police.
That’s exactly why Leindecker is at Beaver County’s active shooter symposium, and he’s not alone. Chiefs from across the county are tackling the big questions when it comes to school security.
“As we are learning in this symposium an incident like that is over in five minutes or less so having someone at the school to communicate with the students, with the faculty, with the administration and building those relationships keeps that open communication for everyone. It has someone on site,” said Chief Donald Sedlacek with Hopewell Twp Police.
The county has 13 different school districts each with multiple buildings, but only about 20 school resource officers from multiple departments.
That’s why the District Attorney’s Office wants to include the school leaders and volunteer first responders in this process.
“They are all learning from each other so if there is an incident we all can contact each other and let each other know what’s going on to get the word out there as quickly and as fast as possible,” said Detective Lt. Timmie Patrick with the Beaver County DA’s Office.
While each school’s plan may differ, this event has helped to open eyes to more possibilities and more resources to help across the county in the event of an emergency.
“What resources are out there for our community with mental help, the state police can assist us with assessments on the school we have if there is any dangers we are overlooking with shrubbery or lighting in our facilities and having the school resource officers at the building what assets they can give to our districts,” Leindecker said.
The DA’s Office will host another 200 people from different districts and law enforcement agencies in the county for the same symposium next Tuesday.
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