There continues to be no words of comfort that can be found in the aftermath of Tuesday’s tragic, senseless school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
The Dubuque Community School District and the Dubuque Police Department share deeply in grief with the families and staff of Robb Elementary School, as well as the entire Uvalde community, during these unfathomable days.
As we learn more about the events that occurred, it is natural to wonder how Dubuque is prepared to respond to a tragic incident like this one.
Most important among our efforts is the incredibly strong relationship between the district, law enforcement, and emergency management partners preparing jointly to ensure the fastest, most effective response should an emergency occur. The district, in consultation with these partners, incorporates a multi-layered approach to safety which includes preventative physical safety measures that accompany response protocols.
Throughout the year, the Dubuque Police Department (including school resource officers, patrol officers and tactical response officers) regularly conducts rapid deployment training in school buildings after hours. This not only helps improve police response efforts, but also helps ensure familiarity with district schools.
Jointly, we will continue to review and enhance our safety protocols based on best-practice approaches and the lessons learned following any tragic event like this.
Moving toward the close of the school year, we remain vigilant in our daily work to provide the safest environment possible for our students, and we will continue to do so in the future.
Sincerely,
Stan Rheingans
Superintendent, Dubuque Community Schools
Jeremy Jensen
Chief, Dubuque Police Department