Community Reacts To Texas Shooting, Details What Local Response Would Look Like

Effingham, IL-(Effingham Radio)- In the wake of the Uvalde, TX school shooting this week, we at Cromwell Media touched base with several community members to gauge what the response to a tragedy like this would look like.

We contacted Sheriff Kuhns of the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office first to get an idea of what the police go through in these situations.

Question 1: What plan is in place for a school shooting response?

Question 2: Do you do these school patrols during the summer too?

Question 3: How do police officers prepare for a situation like this?

Sheriff Kuhns then explained how the local community can help immensely in helping prevent a tragedy. He also mentioned how it can be an extra security issue when parents arrive on-scene.

We also interviewed Superintendent Mark Doan to get an idea of what the response would look like from the school.

Question 1: What is the plan that is in place for a potential school shooting scenario?

Question 2: You mentioned that a School Resource Officer is available when needed. Are there multiple SRO’s for the district or just one?

Question 3: You brought up the extra security at all the schools in the district. Does this include the new football field as well?

Mr. Doan then explained how he and all the staff want to assure the community that they are doing everything they can to make sure all the district schools are a safe place for learning.

We were also able to hear from Zack Willeford, EMT from RuralMed LLC to see what their process is in these situations.

Question 1: What is the protocol for a school shooting?

Question 2: What do you do when you need help with the response, especially given the extra trauma involved?

Question 3: What is the general response time, and do you get help from outside the local area?

A local parent also gave her thoughts on the issue, and if she feels her kids are safe at school. This interview was conducted by our very own Eric Frye.

We thank everyone who participated in these interviews for sharing their process and views on this sensitive topic. We hope this information helps you better understand the process that happens in these instances, and what the response could look like if the unthinkable happens in our local community.

All interviews (unless otherwise specified) were conducted by Derek Warren, News Director for Cromwell Media, Effingham