Fayetteville Police Surprise Schools With Lockdown Drills
By: Kyle Leyenberger
Updated: January 15, 2013
The Fayetteville Police Department is surprising schools with emergency lockdown drills.
Officers turned up at Vandergriff Elementary on Tuesday morning.
Sgt. Craig Stout says the drills offer a chance for police to work with the school to improve emergency response.
"The principals don't know it's coming, the staff doesn't know it's coming," Stout says. "It's all about being prepared."
Assistant Principal Andrea Sego says staff was shocked when officers walked up to the front desk, but the school was ready.
"We immediately went into lockdown position," she says. "Our hallway doors are all locked and every classroom in the building is locked as well."
Stout says the drill focuses on how schools can improve, rather than simply criticizing procedure.
"They did an outstanding job," he says. "You need to be prepared because unfortunately that is the day and age we live in... We have just seen too many tragedies."
He says the sandy hook shooting reinforces the importance of readiness.
"We are on top of our game here in Fayetteville," he says. "If there is something like that strikes, we know our school district is prepared."
Sego is happy to have officers' help in the fight to keep students safe.
"I think it's a great thing," she says. "Especially in the wake of what's happened around our world today and in Connecticut."
The school resource officer will prepare a detailed report outlining improvements for the school's plan, but Stout says parents also play an important role in school safety. He wants them to talk to kids about keeping a safe environment while in class.
"There are unfortunately some bad people in the world and if an adult is asking to come in a door that is not the normal entrance they don't need to let those people in," he says. "They have to go to the office first, even if it is an adult asking."
Officers turned up at Vandergriff Elementary on Tuesday morning.
Sgt. Craig Stout says the drills offer a chance for police to work with the school to improve emergency response.
"The principals don't know it's coming, the staff doesn't know it's coming," Stout says. "It's all about being prepared."
Assistant Principal Andrea Sego says staff was shocked when officers walked up to the front desk, but the school was ready.
"We immediately went into lockdown position," she says. "Our hallway doors are all locked and every classroom in the building is locked as well."
Stout says the drill focuses on how schools can improve, rather than simply criticizing procedure.
"They did an outstanding job," he says. "You need to be prepared because unfortunately that is the day and age we live in... We have just seen too many tragedies."
He says the sandy hook shooting reinforces the importance of readiness.
"We are on top of our game here in Fayetteville," he says. "If there is something like that strikes, we know our school district is prepared."
Sego is happy to have officers' help in the fight to keep students safe.
"I think it's a great thing," she says. "Especially in the wake of what's happened around our world today and in Connecticut."
The school resource officer will prepare a detailed report outlining improvements for the school's plan, but Stout says parents also play an important role in school safety. He wants them to talk to kids about keeping a safe environment while in class.
"There are unfortunately some bad people in the world and if an adult is asking to come in a door that is not the normal entrance they don't need to let those people in," he says. "They have to go to the office first, even if it is an adult asking."
