TOMS RIVER – Police are going above and beyond to protect the safety of local students in the event of an emergency.
Toms River Police recently conducted active shooter training alongside the Toms River Regional School District’s security team, school resource officers, Class III and Class II officers, and school safety officers.
Every school in the district will also have an assigned armed guard, whether it is a law enforcement officer or safety officer, for the 2018-2019 school year.
“Above all else, the safety and well-being of our children and staff is our most important responsibility and these latest enhancements to that end certainly are a testimony to this,” said Superintendent of Schools David Healy. “Educational partnerships have been integral to our district progress and success and in that spirit, we are again grateful to our local law enforcement officials for a partnership that is unparalleled when it comes to protecting our schools.”
The training, which was conducted before school began, reinforces the partnership between local law enforcement and the school district to promote and enact improved school safety measures,
“We appreciate the great working relationship with the mayor and council as well as Superintendent Healy and for everyone working so diligently to get this program started,” said Toms River Police Chief Mitch Little. “The new Class III Program is only part of a bigger preventative plan. It’s developing a safety program working with the schools and making those locations the safest they can possibly be.”
The Toms River Regional School District has partnered with: Toms River Police Department, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, the police departments of Pine Beach, Beachwood, and South Toms River.
“Recent national and worldwide events have, unfortunately, proven that safety is nothing to be taken for granted,” said Toms River School Board President Russell Corby. “Our students need to know that school is a safe environment for them to learn and grow, and it’s our job as leaders to ensure that is indeed the case.”
