Toms River Schools Increase Police Presence After Texas Shooting

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The Toms River Regional Schools will have an increased police presence for "the coming days and weeks," as a result of Tuesday's mass shooting at a Texas elementary school, Superintendent Michael Citta announced Wednesday.

Citta, in a letter sent to staff, parents and students and published on the district's website, reiterated the district's efforts to provide security at all of its schools after Tuesday's shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, which killed 19 children and two teachers.

That security includes school resource officers at every school and technology to screen every person who enters the schools, Citta said. The heightened police presence "does not reflect any threat to our schools, but is an added precaution at this time for us and other area districts."

"No one– no one– can simply enter one of our school buildings without clearance," he wrote. "Earlier this morning I issued a communication to our leadership team reminding everyone to remain vigilant, and to adhere to our strict safety protocols."

Those protocols include not opening doors to let people in or propping them open, no matter what the reason, and requiring everyone to present identification when they try to enter a school.

The law enforcement presence was increased at schools around the state on Tuesday night under an order by New Jersey Acting Attorney General Matthew Platkin. Read more: More Police To Patrol NJ Schools After Texas Shooting, AG Says

"It remains beyond unnerving that the tragedy in Uvalde and others before it happened on school grounds," Citta wrote. "My colleagues and I have walked the hallways of schools our entire lives, and cannot fathom or stomach the notion of the school environment as dangerous. Most importantly we are parents; that the act of sending our children to school might cause any trepidation is alarming and unacceptable."

"We have said many times before and I reiterate today that the safety of our students and staff is our absolute, No. 1 priority each and every single day," Citta wrote. "I firmly believe that Toms River Regional Schools has the closest working relationship with local law enforcement of any school district around. Our friends and colleagues at Toms River, Beachwood, Pine Beach, and South Toms River Police Departments are part of our school family, and work diligently to protect our communities, and that starts in and near our schools."

"I am deeply saddened and disturbed by the senseless tragedy that took place in Uvalde, Texas yesterday, and on behalf of my team I wish to express our most sincere condolences to the families and friends who lost loved ones, to those who survived but will forever live with the trauma of that day, and for the innocent students and brave teachers who lost their lives," Citta wrote.

"I hesitate to call these reminders 'reassurances' because there are simply no reassurances at a time like this, particularly for the people of Uvalde who are enduring unspeakable suffering," Citta wrote. "Still, as your superintendent, it’s important for me that you all know that your and your children’s safety was, is, and will always remain our top priority. I thank you all for your cooperation, understanding, and adherence to our safety measures."