HomeMy WebLinkAboutNR122817KPDProjectGuardianhelpsKauaischools
C O U NT Y O F KAU A‘I
BERNARD P. CARVALHO JR.
Mayor
WALLACE G. REZENTES JR.
Managing Director
KAUA‘I POLICE DEPARTMENT
News Release
For Immediate Release: December 28, 2017
DARRYL PERRY, CHIEF
Tel (808) 241-1600
Fax (808) 241-1604
KPD’s ‘Project Guardian’ helps Kaua‘i schools
The Kaua‘i Police Department (KPD) recently completed a risk assessment study of
Kaua‘i’s public schools in an effort to keep students and faculty safe should an active shooter
incident occur on campus.
The study, called Project Guardian, began in July and entailed a vulnerability
assessment of the island’s three middle schools, nine elementary schools, and three high
schools.
KPD’s findings were submitted in August to Kaua‘i’s Complex Area Superintendent Bill
Arakaki, which led the Department of Education to initiate improvements for Kaua‘i’s public
schools.
KPD’s recommended changes included certified training for staff, review and update
policies and procedures, lockdown drills, security staff, physical deterrents such as deadbolt
locks, protective barriers and security cameras, and improving building identification and maps.
The completion of Project Guardian also led the administration at Waimea High School
to conduct a preparedness drill on its campus on Thursday, Dec. 21.
“Thank you for the great leadership, fantastic students, outstanding staff, wonderful KPD
partners and many others for a successful drill,” stated Arakaki. “Most important is caring for
and keeping our students and staff safe.”
The drill was a combined effort between KPD, DOE’s state and district officials,
community partners and school staff.
“The exercise at Waimea High School was the first step of many towards keeping our
children safe,” said Kaua‘i Police Chief Darryl Perry. “It is important for families to know that the
Kaua‘i Police Department and the Department of Education here on Kaua‘i are committed to
protecting our children from harm.”
To help residents learn more about responding to an active shooter and assaulter event,
KPD plans to offer an ALICE active shooter instructor course in February 2018. ALICE stands
for Alert Lockdown Inform Counter Evacuate. It is a training institute that specializes in active
shooter response. Details for the ALICE training will be announced as more information
becomes available. Anyone interested may contact Sgt. Lance Okasaki at 241-1647.
Other resources for active shooter preparedness can be found on the Federal
Emergency Management Agency’s website at www.training.fema.gov, and on the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security’s website at www.dhs.gov.
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