OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – In light of the tragic shooting at a Texas elementary school, News 6 asked school officials in every Central Florida county about the safety measures in effect to keep students, teachers and staff safe.
In Osceola County, Maj. Dan Weis said he feels for those grieving families in Uvalde, Texas.
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Weis is a father and works with deputies and school guardians across the county to make sure they’re trained and ready to respond in case the unthinkable happens.
“It was very sad. It was like, ‘Oh my God, how could this happen,’” he said. “One shot in the school is way too many”.
Weis said their training includes annual active shooter exercises that include school personnel, along with mental health and de-escalation training.
After the 2018 shooting at Majorie Stoneman Douglas high school, statewide every school district here in Florida must now have at least one school resource officer or armed guardian at every school.
“I’d like to put 10 cops in there and let them teach again and provide the ultimate security but that’s probably not a reality,” said Weis.
In Osceola county, Weis said there’s one SRO at elementary and middle schools and two at their public high schools. Charter schools have trained school guardians.
Sheriff Marcos Lopez weighed in too.
“I have children. And it hits home because we want you as a parent to be able to send your kids to school and be comfortable,” Lopez said.
Late Thursday evening, Lopez released the following statement:
“As your Sheriff of Osceola County, I do understand as a parent your concerns over the safety and security of your children based on the tragic incident that recently occurred in Texas. Please rest assure that we have activated reservists, are monitoring the social media for any threats in schools and we have provided extra patrols around the immediate areas of the schools in Osceola County. Also, we have added extra police presence to school graduation. Please rest assured that there has been no reduction of Law Enforcement presence in any school in Osceola County. We are also complying with State Law and Mandates to have either a School Resource Officer, a School Security Officer, or a Guardian in every school.”