Heightened Police Presence At Fairfield Schools After Texas Shooting

FAIRFIELD, CT — Following Tuesday's mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, Fairfield Schools Superintendent Mike Cummings said he requested an increase in police officers at the town's schools on Wednesday.

"Fairfield Public Schools and the Fairfield Police Department are committed to the protection of your children and our staff," Cummings wrote in a message to parents. "There is no greater responsibility."

Nineteen students and two teachers were killed in the shooting on Tuesday, which had many in Connecticut recalling the Sandy Hook tragedy a decade ago.

"I was huddled in a closet with 18 9-year-olds and three of my colleagues that day when gunfire shattered the peace at Sandy Hook School," Mary Ann Jacob, the librarian at Sandy Hook Elementary School that frightful day, said at a news conference Wednesday. "Yesterday, I was right back in that closet."

Cummings did not elaborate on how long the heightened security will remain at the schools, but said the district and police department are discussing the issue.

"We will continue to work together to strengthen those protections," Cummings said.

In a statement on its website, the Fairfield Police Department reiterated Cummings's remarks.

"We recognize that following tragic incidents such as these, no matter the distance between us, communities across the country are left feeling unsettled," police officials wrote. "Fairfield is certainly no exception and we take seriously our responsibility to ensure our residents, employees and visitors are all able to feel safe within our community and within our schools.

"As a result, we will increase our presence at Fairfield Schools tomorrow, May 25, 2022.

"This is not the result of any threats to our Town or our Schools. This is simply a community engagement measure in response to the tragedy occurring in Texas."

The gunman in Texas barricaded himself in a classroom in Robb Elementary School and "began shooting anyone in that classroom," according to Lt. Chris Olivarez, spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety.

"It is a tragedy and as a community, no matter the distance between our schools, our hearts are with the students, families, and staff of Robb Elementary School and the town of Uvalde," Cummings said. "For many of us the memories of Sandy Hook rise again. Children. A teacher protecting those children. Parents waiting for word on their children whom they sent to school today. Children."