Police, school district release improvement plans following school safety concerns in Cedar City

File photo: Cedar City Police Chief Darin Adams and school superintendent Dr. Lance Hatch address the Cedar City Council in response to an incident involving a teen allegedly brandishing a firearm at Canyon View High School, Cedar City, Utah, March 1, 2023 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, Cedar City News

CEDAR CITY — Following an outcry from parents and community members over how an incident involving a Cedar City teen allegedly brandishing a gun on school grounds was handled, the Cedar City Police Department and Iron County School District have issued a joint statement detailing how they plan to improve current policies.

This file photo shows the Canyon View High School sign, Cedar City, Utah, March 1, 2023 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, Cedar City News

On Monday, Feb. 27, a teenage boy reportedly pointed a gun at several students in the Canyon View High School parking lot. The suspect left the scene but later returned and physically assaulted another student, St. George News reported.

The incidents were reported to School Resource Officer Matthew Carpenter who initiated an investigation, but a lockdown order wasn’t issued until law enforcement’s operation to arrest the suspect on Tuesday.

Additionally, the public wasn’t notified of the incident until the teen was in custody, prompting multiple parents and community members to express anger and concern at the Wednesday Cedar City Council meeting.

Police Chief Darin Adams and school board members said they would reconsider current policies and procedures and take steps to improve them.

To that end, administrators from the school district and police department and three board of education members met on Monday to discuss how both organizations can increase students’ safety and improve communication with parents, the news release reads.

Iron County School Board Vice President Lauren Lewis addresses the Cedar City Council in response to an incident involving a teen allegedly brandishing a firearm at Canyon View High School, Cedar City, Utah, March 1, 2023 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, Cedar City News

Law enforcement walks a “fine line” when sharing information during an ongoing investigation and school officials must rely on police expertise in such situations, the release states. And while the police department “agreed that coordination is imperative,” it “cannot impede the important work they are doing.”

School Superintendent Lance Hatch said that the “reality is that our schools are safer places today than they were a week ago because of the work our local law enforcement did to swiftly identify and take action against a gang presence in our community. We are pleased to support and assist those efforts as they continually support and assist us with school safety and security.”

Still, the meeting’s attendees concurred that improvements could be made, including improving two-way communication between school resource officers and school and district administrators.

Additionally, the school district will work for clearer and earlier communication with parents during security procedures, both real and drilled.

Parents will be educated on various security measures in schools, including types of lockdowns and when they are used, according to the press release. Community members also will be invited to an event to learn more about gangs and how to protect their children.

This file photo shows Canyon View High School at night, Cedar City, Utah, March 1, 2023 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, Cedar City News

The Iron County School District will review safety and security policies and recommend additions to the school board. A review of the coordination agreements between school resource officers and administrators will also be conducted.

In addition to policy changes, several on-site measures will be instituted. These include solidifying a single point of entry at fenced elementary schools and using capital funding to build fencing and installing keyless entry on all school doors. Equipment for the latter was ordered, but the release states that supply chain issues have delayed the project significantly.

Other future improvements could include hiring a district safety and security specialist with various duties, including coordinating drills, protocols and access to schools or installing secure vestibules in schools to facilitate single points of entry, which would “necessitate the expense being placed on an upcoming bond.”

Throughout this process, the partnership between the police department remains strong, Adams said in the release.

“Our relationship with Iron County School District has never been stronger,” he said. “We are committed to continuing that strong relationship.”

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

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