Following the horrific tragedy that unfolded in Uvalde, Texas this week, the Los Alamitos Police Department deployed increased patrols, including foot patrols, to all Los Alamitos Unified schools located in the city.
Police Chief Michael Claborn said immediately after the Texas school shooting incident, he spoke with Supt. Dr. Andrew Pulver and Dr. Jerry Friedman, Assistant Supt. for Safety and Student Services to discuss the possibility of enhancing school patrols.
“I spoke to both of them and basically asked them about their thoughts about increasing the patrols on all of the campuses,” the police chief said. “They were completely supportive for as many officers as we could get on campuses,” said Claborn.
With school ending for the summer, Claborn said his officers are monitoring schools as necessary.
Moreover, Claborn said he will soon formally announce a plan to re-establish a School Resource Officer program for Los Al Unified School District. He said the new program is expected to be in place when schools resume in August.
Claborn said California officers get active school shooter training from the Urban Area Security Initiative.
“The grant has a dedicated training course that is free to all law enforcement in Orange County, our operational area,” the police chief said.
“It is funded for officers to attend and to be able address situations like what occurred in Texas,” said Claborn. He said without “second-guessing” Texas law enforcement authorities, the training in Orange County “calls for a different response.”
Claborn, who will officially be sworn in as the Los Alamitos Police Chief June 9 at the Joint Forces Training Base, said he still meeting people throughout the community and rebuilding bridges to its police department.
“I think community engagement is a big part of my job,” said Claborn.
In addition, he has committed to fully staff the department, saying there are two new officers currently in the Police Academy that are expected to graduate June 30.
Claborn said even with schools out for the summer, Los Al officers will still keep a close eye on local schools, noting that he expects to make a formal announcement about the resumption of a School Resource Officer program before school resumes in August.