As the chair of the Freeholders’ Law and Public Safety Committee, it is my responsibility to help ensure the safety of the residents of our county. To make that happen, I am very fortunate to have a dedicated team of law enforcement personnel to back me up. That committed team, guided by Prosecutor Bruce J. Kaplan and with the support of the Middlesex County Association of Chiefs of Police, is always striving to find better ways to serve and protect the residents of Middlesex County.
I am especially grateful for their efforts on behalf of our youngest residents. Recently at a special meeting with Middlesex County’s public schools superintendents, the Middlesex County Association of Chiefs of Police reviewed and adopted a new policy designed to protect our schoolchildren from outside threats and unfortunate incidents where a gun or other weapon is brought into a classroom.
This uniform school lockdown procedure establishes a clear set of guidelines for police and school administrators so they can quickly and safely deal with crisis situations. Thanks to the direction of Prosecutor Bruce J. Kaplan and the Middlesex County Association of Chiefs of Police, each of our municipal police departments will have a set of rules that will enable them to handle emergency situations in their schools. They also will be prepared and able to assist neighboring communities without risking tactical delays that arise when law enforcement personnel work from different scripts.
While we all hope there will never again be an emergency that demands a school lockdown, it is important to know that the men and women in law enforcement in Middlesex County will be ready to respond quickly and efficiently to ensure the safety of our students, school staff members and the police officers who respond.
Ronald G. Rios
Deputy Director
Middlesex County Board
of Chosen Freeholders
Chair
Law and Public Safety
Committee