Sheriff Martin Cuellar Requests Federal and State Funding to Address Gun Violence Response Preparedness at Schools
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Jun 22, 2022, 0 Comments
Courtesy Eddie Zavala,
Laredo, TX (Webb County) – Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar is urging state and federal leaders for more funding to help address gun violence response preparedness at schools.
In a letter addressed to U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Sheriff Cuellar stressed the need for more dollars to help schools address gun violence and possible outside threats.
The funding, which will aid in “Operation Safety Shield,” will specifically help pay for overtime for certified peace officers, including state troopers, local police officers, and sheriff deputies.
The officers will park their marked units in front of the schools and they will ensure that all safety measures are being followed, patrol the hallways, and greet and engage in conversation with the students.
Additionally, the officers will be doing active shooter assessments and sharing their recommendations with school administrators, all while also providing training on active shooter scenarios.
“Our main priority is the safety of our students. We need to make sure parents know that we are doing our absolute best to keep their children safe at school,” said Sheriff Cuellar. “It is my hope that our funding request is granted and more law enforcement agencies across the state will follow suit.”
In addition to requesting more funds, Sheriff Cuellar is also asking to use state funding from Operation Lone Star and federal dollars from Operation Stone Garden.
“Perhaps we can do both at the same time — focus our attention on the safety of our children and continue patrolling the border,” he added. “This will definitely be a force multiplier.”
