Mayor, Superintendent, and Police Chief To Meet Sunday
By: Caroline Tucker
Updated: December 15, 2012
Aviva Dilworth is praying for peace in Connecticut.
"My prayers go out to the families. I am a mother, but anybody, you don't even have to be a parent, just a human being period," said Aviva Dilworth, a Rochester mother
Dilworth has a 11 year old son.
Towanda Hankerson is also a mom who lost three children to tragedy.
"I was definitely heartbroken, I cried like it was my own," said Hankerson, a mother.
These moms want to know if schools should be prepared for the unimaginable.
"We have to do something to protect our children, if we can't protect them, who will?" said Dilworth
"I would need to say they need to boost up security," said Hankerson.
Police chief Jim Sheppard understands the pain.
"I think the biggest heartbreak is that anybody who is a parent has children, this has to touch them in the core of their being and it is painful," said Chief Sheppard.
Newtown is a lesson that he, the mayor, school superintendent and director of security will now take a look at.
"I think what we have to do is see what we have learned from this incident and see if what we have in place is efficient," said Chief Sheppard.
Mayor Richards planned a Sunday meeting for the leaders to get together.
"There is a system in place and people should take solace in that but it doesn't hurt to talk it out and when something like this happens you just feel like I should do something," said Mayor Tom Richards, (D) Rochester.
Rochester officials say schools here are safe.
In 2010, the Center for Juvenile and Criminal Justice reported nationally 83-percent of public schools reported no violent crimes.
There are annual emergency drills with schools and police.
Chief Sheppard says he's not sure if anything will change but they will review their policies and most of all want to reassure families.
"I know that for a lot of parents there is probably apprehension of sending their babies to school come Monday, and as I said before schools are the safest place our children can be," said Chief Sheppard.
