Marietta Police Host School Security Conference

In view of the shootings in Newtown Ct., parents everywhere are asking: “are my children safe in school?”

On Dec. 19, the Marietta Police Department hosted a conference with police staff including School Resource Officers and representatives responsible for the security of the Marietta School System, Walker School, St. Joseph Catholic School and Mount Paran Christian School. 

This conference was a collaborative effort to ensure that school security policies, plans, infrastructure and emergency communications protocols at public and private schools in Marietta are current.

The two-hour conference included a systemic review of confidential security systems, security plans and school emergency plans.

The following new commitments are designed to enhance school security:

1. The MPD will provide officers certified in Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), a law enforcement process used to conduct thorough security assessments upon request to any school in Marietta.

2. Beginning in 2013, police and school administrators will meet to review and discuss security policies and procedures prior to each new school year.

3. School security administrators and MPD will collaborate to enhance all manners of verbal and cyber non-emergency and emergency communications between schools and police.

4. School security administrators and MPD will consider expanding the MPD Text-a-Cop program, which is presently only in place at Marietta High School, to additional public and private schools in Marietta.

5. School security administrators and MPD will work together to plan additional tactical emergency training exercises in 2013.