Prompted by a series of recent school shootings across the country, police chiefs from six south suburban villages met this week to discuss rapid response strategies.
Police chiefs from Orland Park, New Lenox, Orland Hills, Oak Forest and Country Club Hills gathered in Tinley Park on Thursday to plan for a school shooting scenario.
Tinley Park Police Chief Michael O’Connell said the group discussed joint response plans for school security. Local schools have effective security plans in place, he said, but police want to refresh their plans.
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Orland Hills Police Administrator Tom Scully said law enforcement must be prepared to deploy a rapid response team immediately.
“If there are critical incidents with active shooters or hostage type scenarios at a school, it could take time for a SWAT team to deploy. Our response for a situation like this is a little different than normal police tactics. We have to protect the children,” Scully said. “It always good to sit down with other law enforcement officials to share and work cooperatively.”