Safe Schools Training to Come From Police

A police-led committee of the area's long-standing Safe Schools Partnership will offer training to St. Louis area school teams, including the Kirkwood School District.

On the heels of more shooting tragedies across the United States are conversations about how to better prepare school staffs and teachers for active shooter situations and intruders, in general. Perhaps not all school teams are ready to arm their staffs with weapons for protection on school premises, however a St. Louis metropolitan group of police are getting requests for other types of training. Fenton Police Precinct Commander Capt. Jeff Bader co-chairs a training committee of the Safe Schools Partnership of St. Louis County, which is a group launched during the 1998-1999 school year to facilitate collaboration between the county police department, area police departments, school districts, and other concerned agencies, with the sole …

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Free 'Active Shooter' Training Available

VIDEO: Police emphasize training anyone can take to prepare for individuals trying to kill people in confined areas. School staff and residents are encouraged to consider it as helpful background.

Sniping and shooting-related situations obviously are unpredictable; reacting quickly is key. (For instant news updates follow Patch on Facebook and Twitter.) Free training to prepare for attacks from active shooters is available to everyone from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. At Thursday's Safe Schools Partnership meeting held for multicounties' worth of local school districts and hosted by Rockwood School District, Eureka Police Chief Michael Wiegand spotlighted an independent study course designed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute. This course provides immediate tips for school teachers, but was developed to be applicable to anyone who desires to increase their awareness of …

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Kirkwood Students Send Message to Sandy Hook [PHOTO]

Students of North Kirkwood Middle School honor the memory of Sandy Hook Elementary students by wearing green and white.

Students of North Kirkwood Middle School showed their support for Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT, last week by swapping red for green. Thursday was Green and White Day at NKMS as seen in this photo that has quickly accrued Likes on the school's Facebook page. 

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Police Step Up Presence at Kirkwood Schools

Officers are patrolling as many schools as possible in the wake of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT.

Public and private schools in Kirkwood have seen an increased presence of Kirkwood police officers this week due to last Friday's school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT. Kirkwood Police Chief Jack Plummer spoke with Kirkwood School District Superintendent Tom Williams following the tragedy.  "We hope our presence provides at least some comfort for everyone in the school," Plummer said. District spokesperson Ginger Cayce said that parents have been pleased by the increased security. The incident at Sandy Hook Elementary has prompted the District to review its security measures. The District is asking for feedback from residents as it gears up for a thorough review of policies after winter break.  Residents can email …

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Antona Brent Smith

8:14 am on Thursday, December 20, 2012

It was comforting to see the police at my daughter's elementary school, before and after. Our school is right next to the community college, heavy traffic anyway, and the police are usually there anyway patrolling the college students who sometimes drive a bit fast. This week, however, the police have stood on the steps with the principal and have been friendly, reassuring, and watchful.   more ›

Dick's Sporting Goods Suspends Sale of Modern Rifles

The company said in a statement that the move is in reaction to the school shooting in Connecticut.

The AP is reporting that Dick's Sporting Goods has suspended its sales of modern rifles nationwide in response to the school shooting in Connecticut. The company has posted a statement on its website which, in part, says its sympathies go out to the victims families and says it will not sell modern sporting rifles during this period of national mourning.   There is a Dick's Sporting Goods store at West County Center in Des Peres. Nationwide, the company has more than 500 stores in 44 states.   On Friday, a gunman entered Sandy Hook Elementary School and used a military-style rifle to kill 26 people, including 20 children, before turning the gun on himself. He also killed his mother in her home before going on the rampage. 

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How to Talk to Your Kids About the Newtown School Shooting

A St. Louis advocacy group offers advice in the wake of the tragedy that has rattled parents across the country.