Ready for a crisis

Tribal Police Chief Leslie Hendrick talks about the Lapwai School District’s new technology used for their crisis plan.

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Story Published: Sep 29, 2009 at 10:15 PM PDT

Story Updated: Sep 29, 2009 at 10:15 PM PDT

By Matt Loveless

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LAPWAI - Lapwai students are safer. That's what district officials are saying, thanks to their new Crisis Response system.

What Tribal Police Chief Leslie Hendrick describes as, at times, a “guessing game” during an on-campus incident, is now a prepared plan, and not just for Tribal Police, but for ISP, Nez Perce County, and the FBI as well.

Project Director Candace Hoisington said a $140,000 Readiness and Emergency Management Grant is putting Lapwai ahead of the curve.

"It's made us cutting edge in Idaho," said Hoisington. "I think there are three other schools in Idaho that have this type of system."

It's an online system giving law enforcement instant access to what Hendrick calls critical campus information.

"It just brings us together, making a plan ahead of time, so we're not helter-skelter," said Hendrick. "We can pull up a hallway, or classroom, and it gives us all the details law enforcement needs for safety purposes."

With the computer program, they can pull up pictures of hallways and buildings, and get information on classrooms and what's inside them.

"It gives detailed information on students and staff that may need extra help, so really the whole project is protecting students," said Hoisington.

The grant allows the district to train staff, purchase equipment and make a plan. And Hoisington said if there was an incident, the plan is ready.

While the few incidents that have needed police intervention in the last few years proved fairly minor, Hendrick said the system could have helped answer a lot of questions before they were asked.

"We have to consolidate our resources in bringing all of these departments together in an effort to make sure the Lapwai School District and Lapwai community are safe in a serious situation," said Hendrick.

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