Through an outside grant obtained by Red River County, all Red River County ISD Police Departments recently received much needed ballistic equipment.
“I would like to personally thank Judge Robert Bridges, Constable Shawn Roden, and former Red River County Emergency Management coordinator Amanda Willows for having the initiative to secure this much needed equipment for our departments,” said Detroit ISD Chief of Police Jake Stinson.
Stinson said that since the Uvalde school shooting, there has been an unimaginable amount of legislative mandates come down, and, very little funding released to put these measures in place.
“Red River County is a big county. Our Sheriff’s office bends over backwards to help us in any way they can; however, they are also taxed beyond their resources, battling funding and staffing issues of their own.”
Each district has worked diligently to meet that challenge head on and provide the safest environment possible for all staff and students.
“Our county schools were built for educating students not for tactical defense. To see our elected officials, work together to secure these items for our districts and take a little of that load off makes me proud to call Red River County home,” said Stinson. “The average citizen likely has never had to, or doesn’t want to, entertain the thought of having to engage an active shooter in an open hallway with little to no cover or concealment. I can speak for everyone in this picture and say that’s a daily concern because we consistently communicate and train for this very scenario.”
The ballistic equipment is designed to help officers stay in the fight and eliminate any threat that might come to their districts.
“It also could be the difference between one of us getting to go home to our own loved ones. At Detroit ISD, I have been blessed with an extremely supportive superintendent and school board who care equally about our students’ education and safety. As the district police chief, I am pleased to say I am always included in all safety decisions at DISD.”
“I personally think children are our most precious natural resource and should be protected at all cost. Knowing there are like minded individuals like the guys pictured with me working not only beside me, but behind the scenes unnoticed to help me in that task makes my job easier.”
