Police, Schools Increase Vigilance on Campuses After CT Tragedy

Children from Page Memorial United Methodist Church in Aberdeen perform Sunday in front of a chain of paper angels bearing the names of the 20 children killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting.

By JOHN LENTZ

As of Wednesday, December 19, 2012

With an emphasis on "safety and vigilance" for Moore County students and staff, the Moore County school system's police force was present at each of the county's 23 campuses this week in the wake of last week's shooting tragedy in Connecticut.

Moore County Schools Chief of Police Sammy McNeill said that anxiety levels seemed to be low among students, but officials wanted to "ease parents' minds" that security was in place.

"We wanted to make sure our school resource officers were on- site and visible to give both parents and children a greater sense of security," McNeill said. "Officers are always assigned to the middle schools and high schools, and they have a daily presence on all our other campuses as well."

Officials sent letters home with students on Monday to remind them of the schools' policies and procedures for safety.

The letters arrived at the end of a day marked by wild rumors that may reflect anxiety in some students' minds. One occurrence involved a tweet that read "a handgun" may be present on one school campus on Monday. Another alleged incident stated that a student burst a balloon during a school assembly, prompting nearby police officers to enter "with hands on their (holstered) weapons," according to one source.

"We take all of these rumors seriously, and all are investigated thoroughly," said school spokesman Tim Lussier. "We found the source of the tweet and we dealt with the situation. There has been nothing to present any danger to our students."

In his letter to parents, Schools Superintendent Aaron Spence wrote that the system "joins the nation in mourning the senseless tragedy and loss of life at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those impacted by this unimaginable event."

"Our students, parents and staff need to know that we will continue to increase and expand our efforts in this area," he wrote. "School resource officers will continue to visit all schools to ensure that they are secure. Our principals are all aware of the need to adhere with strict fidelity to our existing expectations for visitor management and school security, and we will be reviewing these expectations in light of this tragedy.

"Parents entrust their children to us and expect that we provide a secure environment, and it is our intention to do that every minute of every day."

Other agency officials have offered their input in light of the school shootings.

Daniel Brown, the chief clinical officer at the Monarch agency in Southern Pines, said that a range of emotions is normal following a disaster and that they should not be ignored.

"It is very common to feel anxious about your own safety and that of your loved ones following a horrific tragedy or major, nationally broadcasted tragedy, especially one that involves children," Brown said. "We are often fearful as disturbing images are repeatedly broadcast. Just as often as we see it, it can play over and over in our minds the same way. That imagery can cause anxiety, distress and strong reactions for adults and children alike."

Brown encouraged everyone to employ the following suggestions "to help adults, parents and children to appropriately explore ways to manage, maintain and restore normalcy following a catastrophe or personal trauma."

These include engaging/ talking to others about the tragedy, distracting oneself or others from the issue, and shutting off the television.

"Today's media coverage of tragic events like this can in and of itself cause strong emotional reactions for both children and adults," Brown said.

Other suggestions include spending time with loved ones, leaning on one's faith, and contacting a professional.

Brown said that recognizing your own or another's feelings following a tragic event can be beneficial as well.

"How you're feeling (is) natural," he said. "Realize that any anxiety, sadness, anger or distress you are feeling, no matter how many miles between you and any tragedy, is a natural reaction."

Lussier said that "all senior staff" visited many school campuses in the system on Monday.

"There have been many questions, but for the most part anxiety levels are not high, and we haven't heard of anything out of the ordinary," he said. "People can be reassured that Moore County has good, safe schools with an excellent police force. Principals and staff are very aware of school safety issues and procedures, and drills and training exercises in that regard are regularly performed."

Spence said that the community must show the children of Moore County that they are "loved."

"We must wrap our collective arms around the children of our community and remind them that we love them with all our heart and will continue to care for them" Spence wrote. "I have no doubt that we will continue to struggle to understand this tragedy.

"Anxiety and anger will be a natural part of this struggle for many of us. Please know that we will have counselors available to talk with our students about these feelings as needed."

Local churches paid tribute to the shooting victims in the Newtown, Conn., tragedy on Sunday in words, song and displays.

Rebekah Day sent several photos to The Pilot from the Children's Christmas program at Page Memorial United Methodist Church in Aberdeen.

"The children performed 'The Secret of Snowflake County' and on the altar was a chain of 20 paper doll angels in memory of the victims of Friday's tragic events in Connecticut," Day said. "Pastor Jane Leechford lit a candle in memory of the victims.

"There was a angel for each child with a name, date of birth, and Friday's date. It made such a beautiful memorial, several people thought that we should share it with you. The angels will remain in the sanctuary until next Sunday, and then we plan to send them to the Newtown United Methodist Church."

At other churches around Moore County, choirs sang and dedicated special holiday songs to the children, and ministers delivered sermons around the events from Friday.

Contact John Lentz at (910) 693-2479 or jlentz@thepilot. com.

More like this story

xemrac 5 months ago

"People can be reassured that Moore County has good, safe schools with an excellent police force. Principals and staff are very aware of school safety issues and procedures, and drills and training exercises in that regard are regularly performed." -When was the last time MCS Police had a multi-LE agency active shooter response drill?

Toda 5 months ago

"Police, Schools Increase Vigilance on Campuses After CT Tragedy" ~ Why? Newtown tragedies have very little to do with North Carolina Schools other than sadness over the loss of innocents.

Any mentally disturbed person who has access to a firearm can reek havoc anytime and any place one who is dysfunctional my target.

Psychological window washing resides in fantasy land - not in the rehelms of reality. No police department or agency can predict where or when the next news headline may come from as shown in past shooting incidents.

Virginia Tech campus police responded while visibly paroling on campus ... not miles away and the end result was the loss of 32 lives. Schools, rest homes, movie theaters, public gatherings are all to wide of a platform, to police, along with other duties of law enforcement. North Korea has a closed police state that works well ... at least we never hear about such incidents in that country. We have heard about the school shootings in Russia and England.

So what have the police and schools been doing to increase a presence prior to the CT tragedy?

Bill 5 months ago

Although I have made a few comments to the pilot, most of the time I just enjoy reading the feuds between everyone. Toda for most of your comments I have disagree with, but this one I believe you are right on.

Having a police officer at a school is a waste of tax payers money, all it does it give a little security to the people that are insecure. I have seen this before and all these officers do is just stand around all day and collect free overtime. Tell me what are they going to do when someone is just on the other side of the building. How are they going to stop someone when they already hit two rooms. Sure that officer might be able to help and do something, but that is only if he is at the right place at the right time. And does anyone really believe that his 357, or 9mm is going to stop the fire power of that young man. I do not think so.

Have we forgotten about Columbine with two shooters, or even what happen in Carthage a few years back?

So what do we do, take away our guns? If we do that. then we need to take our automobiles away from us. We average about 30,000 deaths a year. Okay maybe I am being silly but all it took was one truck loaded with fertilizer to kill 168 people, which 19 of them were children.

Should we be like Switzerland and arm just about every adult in that country. More than 4.5 million owns a gun out of 8 million people in that country, yet they have the smallest murder rate compared to the United States. 0.3 per 100,000 compare to 4.3 in the US.

What about our animals, there is a average of about 400,000 bites a year.

I could go on and on but we know the bottom line. Guns do not kill people, people kill people.

And this is from a person that does not own a gun.

PS Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone.

SH59 5 months ago

I totally agree with both of you. This was a disturbed person who had no social contacts with the community. Maybe the lesson we need to take from this is to socialize with our neighbors and get to know each other.

AFCHIEF 5 months ago

Toda did you lose your gun license after your meltdown?

Toda 5 months ago

Thanks Bill for your feedback...not everyone agrees with my opinions, but then again, most have issues that go far beyond blogs.

Toda 5 months ago

There has to be one idiot on every blog and AFCHIEF wins the prize on this one. Stupid is as stupid says ... did I have a gun license? What meltdown? I have sugar spikes everyday and take Metformin for diabetes.

Just goes to show how stupid people without an education can be at times...weather man my ass.

Toda 5 months ago

SH59 => one problem is when addressing mental illness, at what point does someone other than a family member take charge of seeking professional help? The kid in Newtown was disturbed as pointed out by his mother during her charge to the sitter ~ not to turn his back.

No one had any idea that the VT shooter had serious mental deficits to the point of shooting 32 people.

As a grieving nation, we should demand that Congress provide more funding as opposed to less for entitlements which include mental health services. As I pointed out in a previous thread, Medicare only pays for 12 weeks of treatment; that is if an individual seeks professional help. What happens after 12 weeks.

Now the NC General Assembly through their infinite wisdom has decided not to throw those suffering from mental disorders (group homes) out in the street before the holidays. God save stupid people with good intentions ...

geoffcutler 5 months ago

Bill and Toda, you're onto it. With each passing day the calls for gun control gets stronger with BO and JB hinting executive orders etc... while the attention to mental disorder gets quieter with less and less media attention. Guns sit inert until someone uses them. This person needed help, and never got it. Having said that, his mother never should have given him access to guns knowing what she knew about him. Was that her responsibility, or the state's?

Thatcher 5 months ago

Great post geoff. Spot on. Cheers!

Yukonjohn 5 months ago

Hey Geoff and Thatcher! I agree with both of you.

I wont get far off topic....it is colder than space here again. It has been colder than 50 below all day long. Still at 52 below. Cold as space.

Merry Christmas to all the posters here, in this horrible time for so many.

Thatcher 5 months ago

Yukon! It was 62 degrees above here today. If my math is correct, that's 3 gazillion degrees warmer than up there. You need to come here for Christmas. Be well my friend! Cheers!

Toda 5 months ago

Geoff ~ " while the attention to mental disorder gets quieter with less and less media attention."

Mental health care is a part of entitlement packages found in Medicaid and Medicare regulations. Those recipients on Medicare continue to see personal contributions increase to a point of not being able to afford medicines and medical care.

If in fact, Republicans continue to challenge so called entitlements, then more and more much needed care will become distant to those in need.

Add to the mix, a reduction for psychiatrists fees being reduced to unprecedented amounts, and we will see more acts of violence perpetuated by the mentally dysfunctional. And all along the politicians decry, more gun control. Guns are safe when in the hands of avid shooters and sporting enthusiasts; a problem exists when that line is crossed by someone who is mentally depressed and acts out. There are no answers, and the psychiatric community is stymied for avenues to intervention.

Toda 5 months ago

Yukonjohn => my great niece's husband was reassigned to Alaska in the last two weeks. She arrived in Anchorage yesterday to a balmy 16 degrees. She left in short sleeves and was bundled upon arrival. From what her friends are saying on FB, Alaska is a great place to live ... I just wonder for a 102 # born and bred southern belle....Cheers and Merry Christmas from the lower 48 ....Tommy

debsalomon 5 months ago

FYI: I was the very first to post a blog last Friday, soon after the news broke on CNN. I got shot down for that. For a week I've read (and sometimes responded, hopefully in the voice of reason) about school safety, armed guards, mental illness. I've read the rants which grow more diffuse and global each day. This won't help, that won't help, guns kill people, people kill people (with guns) ,yaddayaddayadda. I'm tired of empirical pontificating and third-hand after-the-facts. Switzerland? Japan? Society in general? What other debates are on your agenda? So try this, guys (which most of you are, I think). Close your eyes for a minute. When you open them, you will be in a first-grade classroom surrounded by the bodies of children, bloody and ripped apart by multiple wounds.The sight makes you lightheaded, nauseous. Just before passing out you look closely at the faces. Hey,. they look familiar.. That's my son when he was six. That's my granddaughter, I think. Hard to tell with her little freckled face blown away. The teacher is my daughter-in-law. I hate using myself as an example but you need it: My son and daughter suffered from bipolar illness. Both were identified and received extensive, expensive treatment, for many years. I do not believe they would be dead now were the guns not so casually available. Neverthless, both died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds Now.....resume your nitpicking arguments about which comes first, the person or the gun. JUST IN: FOUR DEAD IN pENNSYLVANIA SHOOTING.

geoffcutler 5 months ago

Deb, many of those on here are licensed gun owners, many are hunters or ex-military. They are very experienced and skilled with weapons. I closed my eyes as you suggested and pictured one of them present and armed when this mentally disturbed young man entered the school. He didn't get far.

Courseaire 5 months ago

Deb - I'm sorry for your loss and can understand your reasoning to get rid of all guns. I also did what you suggested and came up with the same answer as Geoff.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday & New Year.

MikeNC 5 months ago

Deb, Adam Lanza played violent internet and video games in a windowless basement for hours on end. When Adam turned the gun on himself, it was because he knew the police were coming. Diane

debsalomon 5 months ago

Hello. I don't want to get rid of all guns. I want to get rid of military-style WEAPONS. Hello, again. I want an armed guard or three in every school, posted at every door, if need be....not an armed teacher. Earlier today I suggested bullet-resistance windowless fire doors with buzzer entry on each classroom, plus a a similar door opening outside. Plus a video system like casinos and hotels have. What I'm trying to get across is the natural reaction. It is easier to remove guns from stores and gun shows than it is to search out and treat..maybe successfully, maybe not ... every mentally disturbed person. SO START WITH THE GUNS. Last lick: If you placed yourself in the scenario I suggested, and still came up with that answer then decades of studying and writing about the human condition taught me nothing.. Hope all your families are healthy, happy and intact this Christmas. A better year ahead, for all of us (and please don't turn that into something political).

Yukonjohn 5 months ago

Deb, you and l agree on many things. We also agree that this is one of the most, if not the, most horrific tragedy ever in our schools. We have to protect our beautiful children and their instructors. From here we differ. I am not for banning any "certain" type of gun. The 2nd Amendment was written for citizens to be armed to possibly overthrow a tyranical govt. While that is not something that l advocate, it could certainly come to this in the future. If it ever did happen, we need the ability to own "military style weapons". Just my HO.

Toda, l hope your niece will find exactly what she desires in Anchorage. It is a bit big for me, but as we like to joke, it is only a 30 min. flight to Alaska from Anchorage!! It is certainly not as cold there....we had 54 below zero on my porch this morning, now up to 52 below. At my job, it was only 48. Not enough to make me want to go to work....lol

Merry Christmas to all in this sad time for our nation.

geoffcutler 5 months ago

The problem is, Deb, a gun is a gun, and all do basically the same thing. I hear this term assault weapon and I think...aren't all guns assault weapons? What about a knife or baseball bat? Aren't those assault weapons depending on whose wielding them, and what their intent is? What about box-cutters? Aren't they for opening packages...and yet look what they accomplished on 9/11? The furor and momentum against guns right now is...somewhat understandable... but illogical. It's who is wielding the weapon, and for what reason... not the weapon itself.

Newtown is a terrible tragedy, but Mr. Lanza killed those beautiful children. Mr. Lanza is the one who needed to be controlled.

skylinefirepest 5 months ago

Deb...You are still on about military style weapons...you're barking up a dead tree!! Call me and I'll explain to you why you are WRONG and why I am grossly upset about the simplistic idea that outlawing firearms that MILLIONS OF LAW ABIDING AMERICANS OWN will do anything to curtail gun free zone attacks!!! "So start with the guns" is a warcry that has a lot of us upset...it's a do nothing, feelgood, don't like guns so that's MY solution, comment. Don't you realize that the gunowners of America were just as upset about this tragedy as the non-gunowners?? But now, simplisticly, we're getting attacked for something we had nothing to do with!! ONLY THE LAW ABIDING will be affected by this do nothing legislation! And if you ban them today there are still millions of them in America used by the law abiding for completely legal purposes. And, by your continuing comments, I realize that you haven't done as I asked...find out how many lives are SAVED every day by guns in the U.S. And so we're on somewhat even ground...I've had two family members killed by guns, one murder, one suicide, but the guns were not to blame. It is incredibly easy to commit suicide and some of the methods are painless, a gun is just a quick way.

clarabelle 5 months ago

To be quite honest .......... yes - this is a truly terrible tragedy......... but - the number of auto deaths each year (including many children) dwarfs this by thousands of times. I rarely if ever hear any mention of safer cars.

There are 300+ million people in the US........... and what's amazing is that this isn't more prolific!

justpassingby2 5 months ago

Not to mention the wars in the Middle East. Look at the mental health problems we are creating by sending kids to war!

JD 5 months ago

It's ok guys the NRA is on the case! They 180'd on their stance to make firearm screenings involve psych records. Now they want to ban video games. Great let's ban make believe guns and let crazies keep having access to real guns. What's next ban bb guns? Hypocrites. Flipping genius.

cooldaddy 5 months ago

Not only is it incredibly stupid to ban guns from law abiding people, it is equally dumb to post a "no gun" sign on a business.other than a bar.. Has any criminal EVER stoped at the door and said "whoa...can't go in there!!!

debsalomon 5 months ago

You all seem to have the answers. Go after the mentally disturbed shooters. First, identify them...not easy. Treat them...expensive, problematic. In the meantime, allow them access to weapons that fire 50 bullets in a few seconds. How much of a co-incidence is it that these crazed shooters seem to choose similar weapons? Couldn't we put them out of reach just until every mentally disturbed person has been identified and treated? I agree about the violent games, movies and other entertainment....also the condition of the American family. Let's work on that. But we can't cure everything at once. Banning military-style assault weapons (the phrase used by the TV pundits) is a reasonable first step. I am a reasonable person who, in this case, feels like a chicken in the fox's lair. Deb signing off....until the next gruesome mass murder.