RCPD Announces New Safety Plan After Newtown Shooting

After 20 school children and six administrators were killed in a horrific massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Redwood City officials have revamped their safety plan at schools within the district.

The comprehensive plan will include the collaborative training of the Redwood City Police Department, Fire department and school staffs, which will culminate in a large-scale preparedness exercise.

“The regrettable events that have garnered national attention act as a reminder of the importance and priority that such preparedness planning deserves,” the police department said in a statement.

The plan will include:

• On-site safety training—known as Code Red or the Campus Lockdown Protocol—presented to all school staffs
• All school staffs learning and ultimately employing an emergency drill  
• Refinement of existing departmental emergency response contingency plans and training levels to bolster its responsiveness to emergencies
• Synchronized response plans in conjunction with the Redwood City Fire Department, local hospitals and other public safety agencies in neighboring cities; an all-inclusive tactical exercise will be held on a school campus during 2013. 

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Additionally, the police department is mindful of preventing campus-based violence by implementing the following:

• Redwood City Police Officials will meet with all school sites in the City to review security plans and make any needed additional recommendations.
• Redwood City Dayshift Patrol Officers will meet with the administrators of each elementary and middle school in their respective patrol beats to establish a good working relationship with the school administrators.
• Redwood City Dayshift Patrol Officers will conduct a walk-through of each elementary school to become familiar with the school layout to more quickly and effectively respond in an emergency. 
• Patrol Officers will stop by each elementary school at least one time during each school day (time permitting) to more proactively ensure school safety. 

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