School Safety and Security Commissioner James M. Thomas August 24, 2009 Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security

School Shootings  April 16, Virginia Tech: Seung-Hui Cho kills 32 people and wounds many others before killing himself. Photos: ll

 February 8, 2008 – Louisiana Technical College: A nursing student shoots two women and then herself.  February 11, Memphis, TN: A 17-year-old student at Mitchell High School shoots and wounds a classmate in gym class.  February 12, Oxnard, CA: A 14-year-old shoots a 15-year-old classmate, who later dies of his injuries. Photos:

 February 14, 2008 – Northern Illinois University: A 27-year-old man shoots 21 people, killing five and later himself.  Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich declares a state of emergency, which opens the governor's disaster fund to reimburse local government entities for "extraordinary expenses related to the response in NIU DeKalb" and which allows the state Emergency Management Agency to provide assistance. Photos:

 August 21, 2008 – Knoxville, TN: 15-year-old Ryan McDonald is shot and killed by fellow student 15-year-old Jamar B. Siler in the Central High School cafeteria.  November 12, 2008 – Fort Lauderdale, FL: A 15-year-old female student is killed by a classmate at Dillard High School. Photos: Ryan McDonald

 May 6, Wesleyan University: Stephen Morgan shoots and kills Johanna Justin-Jinich, a student working at the campus bookstore. Photos:

Connecticut General Statute 10a-55a Uniform campus crime reports. Emergency Response Effective October 1, 2007 Each Institution of higher educations and private occupational school shall have an emergency response plan. Photos:

Connecticut General Statute 10a-55a  Plan shall be developed in consultation with first responders  Shall include a strategy for notifying students, employees and visitors of the institution  Of emergency information or situation

Connecticut General Statute 10a-55a  Annually therefore shall submit a copy of it’s plan to  Commissioners of Public Safety  Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security  Local Responders Photos:

 Goal is to keep students, staff and faculty safe during any crisis.  Suggestions include:  Lockdown of classrooms if appropriate  System to have staff, students and faculty report any issues  Coordinate with law enforcement and other first responders ahead of time.

Summary “Connecticut school children and their parents should know that we are, and have been for some time now, working to make our schools, colleges and Universities as safe as possible.” Governor M. Jodi Rell, Press Statement, January 2008