SBPD reacts to CT school shooting, protocols in place - kotanow.com, KDUH, Scottsbluff, News, Weather and Sports

In the wake of a tragic school shooting in Connecticut, local law enforcement explains what they are doing to prevent this from happening in the panhandle.

This morning, 24-year-old Ryan Lanza shot and killed 26 people- including 20 children- before taking his own life.

Acting Scottsbluff Police Chief Kevin Spencer says officers do constant training to handle situations like this. 15 law enforcement officers trained on Monday and Tuesday at the old Aurora Loan Building.

He says being proactive; rather than reactive can help prevent a tragedy.

"Where it's happened in the past- we're very close to four incidents just to the south of us in Colorado where this has happened," explains Capt. Spencer. "So people that think that this won't happen here- we don't think that way. We think when will it happen and we definitely want to be prepared for something like this."

Spencer says forming a strong relationship with are schools and knowing their standard response protocol is imperative.

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