The Town of Groton Police department is ensuring their officers will take time on their patrols to visit every school, every day after the deadly shooting at a Florida high school.
Groton officers are at one of the departments in the state taking part in the initiative called "Every School, Every Day." Patrol officers will randomly stop into Groton schools on their shift during school hours or after-school activities.
Groton Town Police Chief L.J. Fusaro said the idea originated from the president of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association. Educators have expressed fears about how they can protect their students, especially after recent school shootings, he added.
"I’m a parent. I’ve got children that are school-aged. We want to make sure when they go to school, they have a good environment to learn in," Fusaro said.
While the initiative is new, the police chief said it's is something his officers have already been doing.
For example, police Officer Scott Bousquet is the school resource officer at Robert E. Fitch High School. He knows every student and talks with them in the hallways, pops into classes and has become a confidant to many.
"They have enough to worry about dealing with grades and their different classes. For them to have to worry about safety now? I think it’s a good thing because I’m here for them and they know that I’m here for them," Bousquet said.
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Administrators also see the importance of having a police presence on campus.
"When I was in school that was the farthest thing from my mind- that I wasn’t going to be safe. So it’s important that whatever’s going on in school, that the kids do need to feel safe constantly," Fitch High School Principal Joseph Argarese said.
Students said they’re grateful for Bousquet.
“It definitely scares me to go to school. Obviously, it would scare me a lot more if he wasn’t here though,” Maci Silva, a senior, said.
