AUGUSTA — On Feb. 21, Sheriff Wayne J. Gallant and Chief Deputy Hart L. Daley of the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office and Rep. Sheryl Briggs of District 93 attended a legislative forum at the Senator Inn.

The topic of the conference was to discuss “Active Shooter Response Procedures and Training” that are currently in place and implemented by the 16 sheriff’s offices in the state. The meeting was orchestrated to take a proactive approach to school violence protective measures in the wake of the Sandy Hook school shooting tragedy that occurred in Newtown, Conn., on Dec. 14.

Present for the forum were various elected sheriffs, chief deputies, school superintendents, including RSU 10 Superintendent Thomas Ward and SAD 44 Superintendent and president-elect of the Maine Superintendent’s Association, David Murphy; and legislators throughout the state.

Guest speakers were Sheriff Glenn Ross, Penobscot County; Sheriff Kevin Joyce, Cumberland County; and Superintendent David Murphy. This multi-disciplinary collaborative effort reflects a clear commitment by the individuals in attendance to provide the safest schools possible for our children.

After the conference, Gallant and Daley were invited to the House of Representatives and privileged to be introduced in the “People’s House” as guests of Rep. Briggs prior to the finalization of the state budget.

Additionally, Briggs proposed a bill at the request of the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office directed at School Structural Integrity. The bill addresses a statewide resolution on school structural integrity recommending that all schools in Maine works towards the implementation of better ground level security measures for entryway doors, walls and windows.

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