Prince William County Police Reaffirm School Safety Protocols In Wake Of Texas Shooting

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA — In a message to the community on Wednesday, Prince William County police chief Peter Newsham spotlighted the county's school safety protocols in the wake of the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

Newsham said that if families see more police officers around area schools, it's out of an abundance of caution. "It is intended to provide a sense of reassurance to our community," Newsham wrote.

Prince William County's middle schools and high schools all have designated school resource officers. The school resource officer is a police officer assigned to the school who is there throughout the school day.

Elementary schools do not have their own school resource officers, though they are frequently visited by patrol officers, the police department said.

"Yesterday’s tragic incident at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas has left us all with a sense of loss as we grieve for the families whose loved ones are no longer with them," Newsham wrote in the message. "Here at home, we want to assure our community that the safety of our schools, schoolchildren, and school staff is paramount.

Tuesday's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas left 19 children and two adults dead. The gunman was also killed, according to authorities.

Read more: Texas School Shooting: What We Know About Uvalde Victims

"We will continue to work diligently to protect our children to enhance the safety at our schools," Newsham said. "Thank you to our community for not only sharing this responsibility with us but for your compassion for one another throughout the nation."

LaTanya McDade, the superintendent for Prince William County Schools, also sent a letter to community members on Wednesday. In it, she emphasized the school system's security protocols.

"Our Risk Management and Security Services Department provides Active Threat Response training at schools with age-appropriate resources to students to ensure safety in a crisis," McDade wrote. "In addition, every main school entry is limited by a secure buzzer access system. We frequently assess our safety protocols to ensure timely improvement if needed."

McDade also noted that school counselors and social workers would be available throughout the day for any students who are having an emotional reaction. Emergency crisis resources are also available on the school system's website.

Prince William County schools also have a "See Something Say Something" program. The program allows children from sixth grade to twelfth grade to anonymously report unsafe behavior.

See also: Texas School Shooting: Gunman Barricaded In Classroom, Police Say

"Every day, you entrust us with not only your students’ academic development, but also their safety and protection," McDade wrote on Wednesday. "This is a sacred responsibility and one we are committed to doing our absolute best every day."

Dealing with the aftermath of a school shooting can be hard for children. There are several resources available online to help parents talk to their kids about tragic events in the news.

• American Psychological Association (APA): Helping your Child Manage Distress In The Aftermath Of A School Shooting
• National Association of School Psychologists: Talking to Your Children About Violence
• Commonsense Media: Explaining The News To Our Kids
• Commonsense Media: How To Talk To Kids About School Shootings
• Childmind.org Anxiety Over School Shootings