Edited by: TJVNews.com

The New York City Police Department (NYPD) is undertaking comprehensive security enhancements in city schools, spurred by a recent visit to the site of the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, as was reported on Sunday in the New York Post. Inspector Kevin Taylor, head of the NYPD’s school safety division, led a delegation to Parkland, where he was deeply affected by the tragic events that unfolded at the school. The Post reported that the trip has driven him to bolster security measures in New York City’s educational institutions, aiming to ensure the safety of the city’s 1.1 million students and faculty members.

The Parkland shooting, which claimed the lives of 14 students and three staff members, has served as a stark reminder of the importance of school security. According to the Post report, Taylor expressed the urgency of getting school security right in New York City and acknowledged the responsibility he holds to protect the students and staff within the nation’s largest public school district.

“I am tasked with the security of 1.1 million students – plus the faculty – to protect them from whatever is out there,” Taylor said following the trip that ran from August 2 to August 7, as was reported by the Post on Sunday. “That means we can’t afford, in New York City, to ever get this wrong.”

“Everything was still the same – the blood is still there,” Taylor added, according to the Post report, referring to one building that’s been preserved as a crime scene. “No kids – no one – should ever go through that.”

Inspired by the visit, Taylor has implemented a range of initiatives aimed at strengthening school security. These initiatives include the installation of new security cameras, improvements in communication between the police department and the city Department of Education (DOE), and the establishment of a police-operated school safety command center in Queens Plaza, the Post report stated. The command center, set to open in the fall, will continuously monitor the district’s 1,400 school buildings and ensure prompt responses to any incidents.

Taylor’s trip was organized in collaboration with a group of Parkland families, including relatives of Alyssa Alhadeff, a 14-year-old victim of the 2018 attack. The Post report noted that in honor of Alyssa, New York State enacted “Alyssa’s Law,” mandating the exploration of silent panic alarms that directly connect with law enforcement.

“I was privileged to have the families embracing me,” Taylor said, according to the Post report.  “To come down to Parkland … To walk those halls, to go to each classroom, to hear the parents. I have two kids, I can’t imagine if they couldn’t get help.”

The NYPD’s efforts also involve enhancing communication between the DOE and police by creating an anonymous, student-only text tip line. As was reported by the Post, the department aims to align with Mayor Eric Adams’ push for this resource. Taylor emphasized the importance of having cameras placed in strategic locations, ensuring they are directed effectively to monitor school premises.

Taylor called for the addition of approximately 300 more safety agents in schools, emphasizing the need for effective personnel to ensure security. He also advocated for the DOE to ensure all school doors are locked to prevent unauthorized entry.

The NYPD’s commitment to school safety was evident in recent discussions between Police Commissioner Edward Caban, other police officials, and Schools Chancellor David Banks, as was noted in the Post report. These discussions yielded positive outcomes, leading to plans for future high-level meetings to further enhance security protocols.

City Hall spokespersons reiterated the priority of school safety, highlighting the NYPD’s dedication to evolving and improving security measures, the Post reported. The NYPD’s ongoing efforts reflect the collective goal of ensuring that schools remain a safe haven for students and staff, especially in the face of today’s complex security challenges.