
Yesterday, Thursday, 2/9/2023, working with our APISD administrators, the schools went into a “Secure.” The purpose for this decision was from two emergencies taking place simultaneously, both of which had the potential to carry over onto/into school property. One event was near Charlie Marshal Elementary, and the other was at Faulk Elementary. We appreciate the swift and decisive actions taken by our school staff. Additionally, APISD staff utilized APPD-supplied police radios to monitor police activities and communicate directly with police as both events unfolded.ย ย
Following some of the comments online in those associated posts made by APPD leads us to believe there is confusion about what “Secure” means. Secure is not the same as a “Lockdown.” Now is a good time for a refresher.ย ย
Around the start of each school year, I try to push out info about the Standard Response Protocol. Here are some of those information releases:
- https://police.aptx.gov/back-to-school-2022/
- https://police.aptx.gov/school-safety-message-from-the-chief/
- https://police.aptx.gov/about-us/helpful-how-to/#srp
Alternatively, you can find a wealth of information about theย SRP programย by visiting their main website atย https://iloveuguys.org/The-Standard-Response-Protocol.html.
We believe so firmly in this systematic approach to school safety we have implemented it within City departments. Please get familiar with this protocol so that when alerts are publicly shared, you better understand the terminology and what staff, students, and visitors are to do on campus.ย ย
We’re always looking for ways to improve. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please feel free to reach out to us online at [email protected].ย ย
Have a wonderful and safe weekend, AP! Your Chief, Eric Blanchard.