Local School and Police Officials React To Recent Events
By: Alanna Quillen
Updated: December 17, 2012
OUACHITA PARISH -- West Monroe Police have taken a 15-year old West Monroe High School student after he made comments to harm students at the school -- the same day of the tragic school shooting that left 20 students and six school personnel dead in a shooting rampages.
This week, flags across the country fly at half staff.
"An event like this makes you go back and look at your own procedures, look at your own plans," said Dr. Bob Webber, Superintendent of Ouachita Parish Schools.
After the shooting and the threat made to West Monroe High School - both happening almost simultaneously -- local school and police officials are looking over security protocol at schools across the area.
"We just have to do what we can do to ensure the safety of the students as much as possible," said Dr. Webber.
The threat made at WMHS was not taken lightly, said Webber.
"We're gonna take every situation seriously," he said. "We're not going to ignore anything, we're not gonna say it's a prank."
The WMHS student who made the threat was taken into custody by West Monroe Police and taken into Green Oaks Detention Center with charges of Terrorizing.
"Sometimes I think it's kids that are wanting attention," said WMHS parent, Terri Norden. "But at the same time, you can't be too careful because you don't know if they really mean it. There's just too much that's happened in this city lately."
In reaction to recent events, Webber says he wants to change the entrances of schools across the area.
"We've started the renovation of main entrances," said Webber, adding that the events have made him want to be more prompt on getting those projects completed.
He says he plans to practice lockdowns, and increase police presence at schools -- as seen Monday morning at WMHS with the help of the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office and West Monroe Police.
"We've been in discussion with Dr. Webber as always have, this is nothing new to us," said Jay Russell, Ouachita Parish Sheriff. "Tthe way we prepare, we've always prepared. And we'll continue to be prepared and well equipped to handle situations such as this."
For safety reason, Russell says he can't release details on police procedures, but says he believes schools are safe.
"We prepare and we have trained and educated our deputies on what to do with policies and procedures in place," he said.
One security system the superintendent is looking at is having visitors check in with a front desk secretary, who will be positioned behind a protective glass wall. The person needs approval to be buzzed in to the building through locked doors.
The superintendent hopes to have that system installed in schools all across the district, which you can already see examples of at the high schools and other campuses like Ouachita Junior High.
Meanwhile, parents at West Monroe High school voiced their thoughts on school security.
"I think they ought to have a security guard all the time at the school and have the widows fixed where no one can shatter it with a gun," said WMHS parent Ann Jewell.
WMHS parent Jamey McDaniel says he appreciates seeing the "beefed up security" throughout the schools.
"[We need] cops like that all the time. It's sad you have to do that, but you have to do what you have to do to make sure the students are safe," said Norden.
Norden has some advice for parents -- something she told her daughter Monday night.
"When you go to school tomorrow, just to make sure that you watch your surroundings, look for anyone that might be suspicious, just be careful and watch everywhere you go because you don't know what's gonna happen," she said.
Superintendent Webber says deputies will continue to have a presence on campuses for the next two days at least, as needed.
This week, flags across the country fly at half staff.
"An event like this makes you go back and look at your own procedures, look at your own plans," said Dr. Bob Webber, Superintendent of Ouachita Parish Schools.
After the shooting and the threat made to West Monroe High School - both happening almost simultaneously -- local school and police officials are looking over security protocol at schools across the area.
"We just have to do what we can do to ensure the safety of the students as much as possible," said Dr. Webber.
The threat made at WMHS was not taken lightly, said Webber.
"We're gonna take every situation seriously," he said. "We're not going to ignore anything, we're not gonna say it's a prank."
The WMHS student who made the threat was taken into custody by West Monroe Police and taken into Green Oaks Detention Center with charges of Terrorizing.
"Sometimes I think it's kids that are wanting attention," said WMHS parent, Terri Norden. "But at the same time, you can't be too careful because you don't know if they really mean it. There's just too much that's happened in this city lately."
In reaction to recent events, Webber says he wants to change the entrances of schools across the area.
"We've started the renovation of main entrances," said Webber, adding that the events have made him want to be more prompt on getting those projects completed.
He says he plans to practice lockdowns, and increase police presence at schools -- as seen Monday morning at WMHS with the help of the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office and West Monroe Police.
"We've been in discussion with Dr. Webber as always have, this is nothing new to us," said Jay Russell, Ouachita Parish Sheriff. "Tthe way we prepare, we've always prepared. And we'll continue to be prepared and well equipped to handle situations such as this."
For safety reason, Russell says he can't release details on police procedures, but says he believes schools are safe.
"We prepare and we have trained and educated our deputies on what to do with policies and procedures in place," he said.
One security system the superintendent is looking at is having visitors check in with a front desk secretary, who will be positioned behind a protective glass wall. The person needs approval to be buzzed in to the building through locked doors.
The superintendent hopes to have that system installed in schools all across the district, which you can already see examples of at the high schools and other campuses like Ouachita Junior High.
Meanwhile, parents at West Monroe High school voiced their thoughts on school security.
"I think they ought to have a security guard all the time at the school and have the widows fixed where no one can shatter it with a gun," said WMHS parent Ann Jewell.
WMHS parent Jamey McDaniel says he appreciates seeing the "beefed up security" throughout the schools.
"[We need] cops like that all the time. It's sad you have to do that, but you have to do what you have to do to make sure the students are safe," said Norden.
Norden has some advice for parents -- something she told her daughter Monday night.
"When you go to school tomorrow, just to make sure that you watch your surroundings, look for anyone that might be suspicious, just be careful and watch everywhere you go because you don't know what's gonna happen," she said.
Superintendent Webber says deputies will continue to have a presence on campuses for the next two days at least, as needed.
