The Queen Creek Police Department (QCPD) has partnered with the Queen Creek Unified School District (QCUSD) to provide presentations to promote safety and security within district schools.
QCUSD officials said that creating a safe and healthy environment is one of the top strategic priorities of the school district and that the partnership with QCPD will make a positive impact on district students and families.
“We want parents to know that QCUSD and QCPD work together if need be,” said Joe Johnston, coordinator of school safety and security for QCUSD. “We have direct line of contact for any issues we need to discuss.”
The safety presentations are presented in two forms: one for parents and one for students. Each presentation also differentiates based on the needs and preferences of each school with bullying as the main focus.
“I like how the officers give age appropriate talks,” said Arianne Scott, a parent from Jack Barnes Elementary. “The last thing I want to worry about is my kindergartner being more anxious in school, and you can tell the officers really care and they want to be there and they want to be interacting with kids in a positive way.”
James Gowdy, director of athletics and support services at QCUSD, noted the presentations not only provide good information but strengthen community connections.
“The purpose of the presentations is to highlight the positive relationship between our schools and QCPD,” said Gowdy. “The presentations also provide details on how schools and police handle safety-related investigations and educate students on our shared responsibility in keeping our schools safe, healthy and conducive to learning.”
Along with giving safety presentations for parents and students, QCPD helps facilitate yearly training with school administrators on various safety scenarios. District-level personnel meet monthly with both QCPD and the Queen Creek Fire and Medical Department, as well as with the Town of Queen Creek's emergency management coordinator. Local emergency responders also provide feedback on school emergency procedures and debrief on responses to specific school incidents.
To learn more about how QCUSD provides a safe and healthy environment for students and staff, visit the Safe and Healthy Environment page.
The next parent presentation on "The Power of Words" will begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 19 at Queen Creek High School, 22149 E. Ocotillo Road. It is open to the public and QCPD will discuss with students and parents the power words can have and potential consequences. At this presentation QCPD will cover topics including types of threats, reporting and outcomes; responsible social media use; and the role of law enforcement and school administration.
