Medfield Represented at Training to Assess, Respond to School Violence

Submitted photo info: From left: Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey; Bank of Canton President Stephen Costello; United States Attorney for Boston Carmen Ortiz; and Stephen A. Marks, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Office of the U.S. Secret Service.

Medfield Public Schools employees and police department representatives were among the 200 individuals from across the county who attended Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey’s “Assessing and Responding to School Threats” training conference Nov. 20 at Bank of Canton’s headquarters.

Both Superintendent Jeff Marsden and Police Chief Robert Meaney attended, as did Officer Michelle Manganello and school Nurse Kathleen Thompson.

The following press release was submitted by the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office.

Preventing targeted violence, responding to dangerous behaviors, safely re-integrating students following mental or behavioral health treatment, visitor threat assessment and securing large spaces during crisis were all explored by local and national experts the training conference.

“There is significant research and work being done on the best ways to keep schools safe, both here and across the county,” District Attorney Morrissey said. “We are fortunate to have been able to bring some impressive experts to Norfolk County to share that information with nurses, teachers and superintendents, patrol officers and police chiefs. There was something here for every level of these organizations.”

Three members of the Secret Service addressed research-based strategies for preventing targeted violence in grades Kindergarten through 12: Boston Field Office Assistant Special Agent in Charge Stephen Marks, the National Threat Assessment Center Chief, Dr. Michelle Keeney and NTAC Research Psychologist Lina Alathari. United States Attorney Carmen Ortiz joined DA Morrissey and ASAC Marks opening the program.

Director of School Health Services for the state Dept. of Public Health Mary Ann Gapinski presented for an hour on the growing phenomenon of needing to craft safe and successful school re-integrations for students who have been removed for their behavior, undergone treatment or been absented for other cause.

State Police Sgt. John Suyemoto, from the MSP Special Tactical Operations (STOP) team talked about both visitor threat assessment and techniques for securing large spaces in the event of a disturbance. Attorney Matthew W. MacAvoy from the firm of Nuttall & MacAvoy, P.C., addressed responding to student threats and dangerous behaviors within the state laws and regulations.

Morrissey partnered with the Mass Teachers Association to provide continuing education credits to teachers.

“When there is a traumatic event at a school anywhere, the media is saturated with the details and the story,” DA Morrissey said. “But every day, there is thoughtful work done in school houses and police stations to prevent major events, but also to stop more modest problems before they grow. I commend Medfield’s demonstrated dedication to this work.”