Increased Patrols At Hillsborough Schools After Deadly Texas Shooting

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

"We want to assure you of the safety of our school buildings and grounds. We will be even more vigilantly attentive to everyone’s safety and well-being in the coming weeks," said Hillsborough Acting Superintendent Dr. Kim T. Feltre.

Hillsborough Police Chief Mike McMahon said there are no reported threats in Hillsborough or across our state at this time. Despite that McMahon said there will be an increased police presence at all of the schools for the rest of the week.

Additionally, the district's school counseling team, as well as its other mental health professionals, will be available to support township children and residents through this difficult time.

Anyone in need is asked to reach out to their building principal, school counselor, or Jessica Smedley, Director of School Counseling, jsmedley@htps.us, for additional assistance and support.

Hillsborough'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

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

"We know you join us in sending condolences to the families and school community of Uvalde, Texas. Feeling anxious and fearful is a normal response to such a tragedy. Watching the news and coverage of traumatic events can increase this fear and anxiety, so it may be prudent to limit your child’s access to coverage of these events," said Feltre.

Feltre also offered Hillsborough parents some resources that may be helpful to families in the aftermath of this tragedy:

• American School Counselors Association: Helping Students After a School Shooting
• American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry: Talking to Children About Violence
• Child Mind Institute: Anxiety Over School Shootings
• Common Sense Media: How to Talk to Kids About School Shootings

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