At Monday night’s North Judson Town Council meeting, Town Marshal Kelly Fisher highlighted some of the ways that the police department stays involved with the school corporation.
She told the members that she and Officer Rico Simpson recently assisted with a drill at the North Judson-San Pierre Schools.
Fisher explained, “I was very impressed, especially with the high school kids. We went into the school and if I didn’t know any better, I wouldn’t think that there was staff or students or anybody anywhere in the school.”
She said they went around, checking to see if all the doors were securely locked and they even shined flashlights through the windows and all the students remained out of sight.
Marshal Fisher added that Elementary School Principal Julie Berndt told her that the younger students still need a little bit more training about how to appropriately respond to an emergency situation but they’re on track and making progress.
In addition to assisting with the drill, Marshal Fisher shared that she and Officer Frank Thomas consistently visit the schools.
She stated, “On my days I go through the elementary school and Frank goes to the high school, just to keep in touch with the kids and I believe it’s made a big impact on them.”
Council President Wendy Hoppe mentioned that she’s heard positive feedback about the police visiting the NJ-SP campus from teachers as well as Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin.
The North Judson Police Department has held multiple events throughout the summer to help kids feel more comfortable around the police and to bring the community together. They had great success with their creative outreach ideas such as ‘Chalkin’ with Cops’ and the slip n slide events.
