School Safety
Update from the Chief of Police - Bristol Police Department
Dear Families,
On behalf of every sworn and civilian support staff member of the Bristol Police Department, let me emphasize our commitment to excellence for school safety.
I think it is acutely important to provide you an update on the measures the Bristol Police Department continues to deploy in concert with our new programs to provide the safest school setting possible. When I was installed as your new police chief in 2019, I pledged on the stage of Colt Andrews School that school safety would be my highest priority during my tenure - I honestly meant it.
As you may know, I am the husband and father of public-school educators and know how important this topic is to all of you. Additionally, I am an educator myself, working part-time as an adjunct professor, and respect a nurturing environment to foster the best climate for learning. Moreover, our school resource officers are parents, coaches and mentors who value the need to promote a positive learning institution and the importance of public safety for students, faculty, and the community alike. Particularly, school resource officers Keith Medeiros and Greg Silvia have my complete support in their insight, abilities, and resolve.
Listed below are the school safety measures that we have implemented during my administration on top of the legacy of excellence that already existed from prior police administrations and personnel. Note: There are other ancillary safety measures outside of this list that will remain confidential to enhance our school safety protocols.
Tip411 - https://www.bristolri.gov/departments/police/tip-411/ Students are often afraid to come forward with information about potential violence, drugs, bullying, and other issues. Tip411 provides the tools to overcome this hurdle through a web-based messaging system or phone app (see the link above to access the system). Our department implemented this new technology to allow us to open up a two-way line of communication which will enable citizens to anonymously provide us information which will assist us in the solving of crimes and create a safer community. Additionally, you can even attach photographs and videos after you submit an initial tip! The Tip411 banner is currently displayed in the school cafeteria at MHHS and routinely on the grounds of the school and throughout the Town.
K-9 Brody and School Resource Officer (“SRO”) Keith Medeiros – In 2020, we added k-9 Brody, a certified comfort/therapy dog, to the school safety portfolio. Together, K-9 Brody and SRO Medeiros have made significant advances in our SRO program and community outreach goals. Additionally, in 2022 we designed a confidence building coloring book with Brody as a role model and pictures of him and SRO Medeiros throughout Bristol.
During my tenure as your Police Chief, I have attended many school programs and made myself a fixture at community events focusing on school and youth events (e.g., pre-prom guest speaker, class night ceremony, graduations, little league openings and a multitude of other events). Additionally, we have dedicated personnel who work on various committees and boards throughout Town that work to improve the quality of life for all residents, including our youth.
In 2021, we completed a comprehensive security assessment on all the public schools in Bristol. These assessments made recommendations to the school administration on how to improve the safety protocols, infrastructure, and methodologies to harden the school’s penetration in an overall effort to enhance school safety. These improvements are continual, and we remain in a close partnership with the Superintendent and her staff on these ongoing improvements.
In 2021, we provided virtual training to meet the challenges of COVID while the district was practicing distance learning protocols. This training allowed us to keep BWRSD educators’ skillset sharp. Additionally, we shared this communication and partnered with the Warren Police Department to deliver a uniform message throughout the region. In the coming school year (2022-2023), we will once again work collaboratively with the Superintendent’s office to schedule formal training for our educators and staff.
In 2022, we decided to work directly with the students at MHHS to design a safety campaign and video message that addresses an active shooter situation. This concept was designed to provide a best practices model for our students and faculty. The video also highlights the Tip411 program and a closing message from Chief Borges of the Warren Police Department and me. The goal was to get the kids involved and garner buy-in from their peers to bolster the message. This video will be shared with all the students, faculty, and community once complete.
In 2022, when students returned from distance learning, the Bristol Police Department added an additional full-time SRO to provide another layer of public safety at the high school. The goal was to have a full-time SRO at MHHS thus allowing K-9 Brody and Officer Medeiros to spend ample time at the elementary schools. This proved very beneficial as we rolled out the new coloring book for Brody which was themed for our younger populace. This marked the first time the department had roving coverage at all the public schools with an SRO.
In 2022, I executed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the new BWRSD Superintendent for the School Resource Officer program to affirm my commitment to school safety.
In 2022, the Bristol Police Department partnered with the Cranston Police Department’s Special Reaction Team (SRT) to garner advanced skills on tactical situations. Significantly, key members of the department received this specialized training from an agency with advanced certifications, skills, and background on this technical training. I remain grateful to my alma-mater and Colonel Michael Winquist – Chief of Police for his support and generosity to train our staff.
- In-Service Training – The entire Department will be undergoing active shooter training inside the Bristol Schools to learn the interior landscape and to drill on modern practices in the coming months. Particularly, the department adopted the Hide-Run-Fight model supported by the Department of Justice - FBI: https://www.fbi.gov/video-repository/run-hide-fight-092120.mp4/view. Of particular note, the Bristol Police Department trains to have officers enter a school setting upon arrival to immediately engage a threat in the hopes of isolating the situation.
Partnerships - We continue to work in partnership with the Warren Police Department and the Rhode Island State Police on school safety initiatives. I think it’s a benefit to note that I have personally known Chief Roy Borges of the Warren Police Department for over 30 years and value our harmonious relationship and friendship in building a strong bond on public safety both in our schools and communities. This positive relationship allowed us to recently work cooperatively on an investigation that impacted the MHHS. This investigation was highlighted on our social media pages and local newspapers and impacted our youth at MHHS. https://www.eastbayri.com/stories/arrested-warren-teen-had-large-quantity-of-marijuana-cash-and-a-gun,102883
In 2022, we worked with the Town Administrator’s office to design a community policing outreach office on the Town Common in the old Walley School. Once the reengineering of the Walley School is complete it will house the first-ever satellite Bristol Police office for community programs and house our SROs in the summer months.
Grant Funding - Upon the directive of Bristol Town Administrator Steven Contente, we are applying for funding for an ancillary permanent SRO for the beginning of the new school year (2022 -2023) through the Department of Justice under the COPS grant program. I remain confident that we will have a 2nd permanent SRO for the beginning of the new school year.
In January 2022, I was elected by my peer Chiefs to the Vice-President’s chair of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association and this coming January (2023) I will assume the role of President. I pledge to utilize this important advocacy role to promote school safety protocols in every venue and platform possible.
Lastly, it was my goal in this communication to keep the community informed about our commitment to school safety and reaffirm my personal commitment to this core mission. I would like to thank the dedicated members of the Bristol Police Department who for the second consecutive year have made the Town of Bristol the safest community in Rhode Island in which to reside.
Yours in safety,
Kevin M. Lynch
Chief of Police
With our children in mind,
Superintendent of Schools
Bristol Warren Regional School District
Website: www.bwrsd.org
Location: 235 High Street, Bristol, RI, USA
Phone: 401-253-4000