I was a high school senior when I watched the Columbine shooting unfold on TV. Like many parents, it and subsequent events have left a lasting mark, and I sometimes feel a flash of panic when I drop my kids off at school.
I’m fortunate, though. My children live in a community and attend schools in a district that takes safety seriously. I have an eight-year-old at Stevens Elementary and an eleven-year-old at Everitt Middle School. For the last five years, I’ve also served as chair of our school accountability committee, which is a group of parents and community members who partner with the principal on academics, budgets, and family engagement.
Last year, we were asked to weigh in on school safety after the district was asked to increase its investment in school resource officers (SROs) by taking on half of their salary costs from the cities and county. Through that process, I saw firsthand the strong partnership between Wheat Ridge police and our schools. Their work goes far beyond policing hallways: they monitor activity around schools, respond quickly to incidents, and—equally important—build relationships with students, staff, and families. When there was a robbery across the street from Stevens Elementary, officers monitored the situation, updated school leaders, and ensured students were safe without creating unnecessary trauma. They are a regular presence at community and school events, which helps families see them as allies, not strangers.
In fact, with new funding from Jeffco Public Schools, WRPD invested in a third SRO this year to help cover the roughly dozen schools in the city between Wheat Ridge High, Everitt, Sobesky, elementary schools, and private schools. SROs also work closely with the district’s Campus Security Officers, constantly reviewing and improving safety plans. Wheat Ridge Police also encourages patrol officers to walk school hallways in case a larger response is needed.
The district itself takes safety seriously, convening a Safe and Secure Learning Environments Workgroup in 2024. As a group, we wrestled with the complexity of school safety, recognizing that protection extends beyond physical security; it also encompasses student wellness, belonging, and a healthy school climate. Earlier this year, they hosted a community wide safety event at Wheat Ridge High School to continue those conversations.
Of course, no system can account for every possibility. When I heard the news of the recent shooting at Evergreen High School, I felt a familiar moment of panic and deep sadness for the families affected. But I also took comfort knowing that here in Wheat Ridge, our schools, law enforcement, the district, and families are pulling in the same direction to keep kids safe.
We may never prevent every crisis, and I hate that school safety is a topic too often at my family’s dinner table. But in those conversations, we focus on what safety really means. It isn’t just fences, drills, or officers—it’s trust, communication, and relationships. That’s what I see in our community. And that’s what gives me hope.
