Good evening, Team DPS,
There are no words to express our pain about the mass shooting at an elementary school in the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District west of San Antonio, Texas. We are sending our deepest sympathies to all of the people impacted by this school shooting. We are also keeping in our hearts the countless others whose lives have been forever changed by this senseless act of violence.
DPS Dept. of Safety Chief Mike Eaton reiterated that he and his team stand ready to support all of our schools through this difficult time and will focus on providing both emotional and physical safety during the remaining two weeks of school. He has connected with the Division Chief of Patrol for Denver Police and requested that officers have an increase in visibility in and around our schools. He asked for our elementary schools to be prioritized as they are most prominent to be feeling the effects of what happened yesterday. Eaton also directed the Dept. of Safety to allocate all available resources to ensure that their presence is noticeable and relevant.
I want you all to know that we have safety policies, plans and procedures in all of our facilities. These have been developed and put in place by our Department of Safety, Denver Police Department and Denver Fire Department and are certified each year by the Dept. of Safety. We also have a team of psychologists, social workers and counselors who are available to provide emotional support to children and adults in the aftermath of a crisis situation.
You can access resources that have been compiled by our Student Equity & Opportunity and Mental Health teams, which provide support as we process this traumatic event alongside our students and other team members. Please share the details included in the Supporting Students in Response to School Shootings as you feel is appropriate. More resources will be added as they become available.
Thank you,
Dr. Alex Marrero
Superintendent
