Increased Patrols At Bridgewater-Raritan Schools After Deadly Texas Shooting

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — There will be an increase in police presence at all Bridgewater-Raritan Regional Township schools after a gunman killed at least 19 students and 2 adults at a Texas elementary school on Tuesday.

"The safety of our school's students and staff is of the utmost importance. Please expect to see an increased police presence around our schools in addition to the times we are there throughout the day," said Raritan Police.

Superintendent Robert Beers said the district is continuing to use their School Resource Officers, Special Three officers, and district security to enhance the safety of all members of the Bridgewater-Raritan School Community.

"We continue to place safety and security at the forefront of our responsibilities today and every day that our schools are in session. We are grateful for the relationships we have with the Bridgewater and Raritan Police for their assistance in enhancing the safety and security of our students and faculty," said Beers.

Bridgewater and Raritan's actions follow in line with Acting Attorney General Matthew Platkin, who said that New Jersey State Police will ramp up their presence at the Garden State schools where troopers are the primary law enforcement.

All 21 New Jersey county prosecutors have also been instructed to increase local police presence at schools in their jurisdictions. Read More: More Police To Patrol NJ Schools After Texas Shooting, AG Says

"The Bridgewater Police Department has begun conducting additional property checks on school property, which is in addition to the School Resources Officers and Class III Officers that are assigned specifically to the Bridgewater-Raritan School District," according to the township.

All of this follows the Texas shooting, which is the deadliest at a U.S. elementary school since the Sandy Hook massacre in 2012. It also comes four years after a gunman killed 10 people in a shooting at Santa Fe High School in the Houston area. Read More: Texas School Shooting: 19 Children Killed In Uvalde

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