In a joint fire and police department safety committee with the school district that includes representatives from the DuPage County Sheriff's Office, Warrenville and Winfield Fire and Police Departments, we have worked to provide administrator, staff, teacher and police officer training, enhanced radio communications, increased police patrols, pre-planning and emergency exercises. The public needs to know that the threat is real . Based upon its proximity to a major urban center, suburban setting, population size, demographics and socioeconomic status, Wheaton shares many elements in common with communities who have been struck by incidents of school violence. There are, however, a number of very practical measures that parents and students can take to minimize this threat. Complacency kills .
Crime prevention is an attitude.
This attitude within the school sets a tempo and sends a strong message to negative influences that the school is not a place to meddle with the safety and security of children or teachers. The aviation industry has this formula correct with respect to statements by passengers about guns or bombs on aircraft. This approach has transformed the culture, climate, safety and security for airline passengers. Report all suspicious persons on or near school grounds . Exterior safety is the cheapest, most effective security measure in any school building.