Local authorities raise school safety

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Some Wabash Valley law enforcement and school leaders are taking new security steps in response to Friday’s deadly shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.

The Vigo County Sheriff’s Department reports they have resumed foot patrols at all county middle and elementary schools, which means that each school in the county will be visited by an officer each day.

“We really believe one of the best ways we can combat this (violence) is to have law enforcement in the schools,” said Chief Deputy Clark Cottom. “It’s a changing world.”

On Monday, the Hamilton Center in Terre Haute held a discussion about school security with Terre Haute Police, the Vigo County Sheriff’s Department, the prosecutor’s office, city leaders, school officials and others.

The group discussed several ways to make schools safer, including the addition of buzzers at entrances, new “active shooter” training for teachers and staff, along with other measures, Cottom said.

“It’s going to be a team effort,” Cottom said. “It’s going to take public cooperation, parental cooperation, the school corporation, governing bodies: city, county, state and federal governing bodies.”

Meawhile, authorities in Clay County, Indiana also added security at schools. The county sheriff’s department assigned one deputy to spend the day in school and asked two other deputies to visit schools between their other duties, Sheriff Mike Heaton said.

“I feel pretty confident in our schools, but there’s always … something we can probably do different or increase, and that’s what we’re going to work on,” Heaton said.

Sheriff Heaton also said he will hold meetings with school leaders to discuss security in the coming days.