Ohio Launches School Shooting Prevention Division

COLUMBUS, OH — A specialized division of Ohio Homeland Security will be created and dedicated to preventing school shootings. The division was created after Governor Mike DeWine issued an executive order on Wednesday.

The new division — called the Ohio School Safety Center (OSSC) — will help schools and law enforcement prevent, prepare for and respond to violence. The group will be headquartered in Columbus. DeWine's office said the OSSC will use a "holistic, solutions-based approach to improving school safety."

“Given that schools are often targets of violence, school safety proposals are a prominent part of STRONG Ohio, my 17-point plan to reduce violence with dangerous weapons and increase mental health treatment,” said DeWine. “Having one office where the staff solely focuses on keeping our students safe and our schools secure, will allow analysts to nimbly assess threats, proactively address potential issues, and expertly train and support school faculty in a more streamlined manner.”

Ohio, like nearly every other state in the nation, has seen several violent incidents at schools. In 2012, a shooter attacked Chardon High School. In 2016, a shooter attacked Madison Junior/Senior High School. A third attack happened in 2017 at West Liberty-Salem High.

To prevent future attacks and to protect students and teachers, the OSSC will:

• Scan social media and websites for threats toward schools
• Review emergency management plans in school district
• Implement threat assessment team training at schools
• Host an annual school safety summit
• Consolidate the state's school safety resources on one website
• Promote and expand the SaferOH Tip Line

DeWine's executive order also creates the Ohio School Safety Working Group. The group, composed of public safety, education, mental health and emergency management experts, will meet quarterly. DeWine's office said the group would produce a yearly report on the state of school safety in Ohio.