Police Chiefs’ Association announces school safety protocols

LINCOLN, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Police Chiefs’ Association released its school safety report Thursday in the wake of recent mass shootings in the United States.

The committee is tasked with assessing and determining the best course of action to protect students and staff in the case of active threats. On Thursday, the association published guidance to be used by officials to make plans to improve building safety.

“We know that securing these buildings sometimes fails due to lack of guidance due to law enforcement,” said Chief Edward Mello with the Jamestown Police Department.

Among the recommendations listed include improving security on exterior doors, windows, and surveillance. Implementing alert systems inside buildings and training all staff on what to do in the event there is an active threat.

Superintendent of Lincoln Public Schools Lawrence Filippelli offered details on his review of Lincoln schools. He said they found the district had successful lock systems at doors but did find areas for improvement, like limiting blind spots.

“Things like increasing cameras and outside lighting,” Filippelli said.

The recommendations provided to schools are not mandatory, and school districts can use up to $500,000 the state is providing each district this summer to make any security upgrades needed.

The association has established the Basic School Safety Committee to guide police and schools to keep community members’ best safe.

RIPCA shared best practices for physical security at schools throughout the Ocean State, recommendations of safety measures for school officials to put into place, and asked state leaders to support school districts as they put new measures into place.

The association recommended enhancing the safety of exterior doors and windows and establishing a Threat Assessment Team.