Georgetown Police Receive Grant to Enhance Coordination and Communications with Georgetown Public Schools During Responses

GEORGETOWN – Chief David Sedgwick and Superintendent Margo Ferrick are pleased to share that the Georgetown Police Department has received a $1,000 grant to enhance coordination and communications with the Georgetown Public Schools during a response.

Awesome Georgetown, a philanthropic nonprofit, awarded the Department the grant following a presentation by School Resource Officer Taylor Ford on Wednesday, March 27.

The grant will be used to purchase supply kits to assist first responders in reuniting students and families following a disruptive event. Kits include safety vests, information cards, First Aid kits, and binders that identify roles and responsibilities in ensuring a smooth reunification of students and families.

Officer Ford attended a two-day training in standard reunification protocol by the I Love You Guys Foundation in Haverhill in October 2022. The Colorado nonprofit works to bridge the gap between first responders and educators who may have different emergency response structures and terminology, hindering a timely and effective response.

The reunification protocol can be used in a number of critical or non-critical situations, even something as small as a power outage that ends the school day prematurely.

The Georgetown Police Department subsequently received a $600 donation from the Georgetown Kiwanis Club.

“Thank you to Awesome Georgetown and Georgetown Kiwanis Club for their support and thank you to Officer Ford for her leadership in this effort,” Chief Sedgwick said. “We value our partnership with the schools, and these kits mean we will have the necessary tools to effectively unite parents and children during a response.”

“The well-being of our students and staff is our main priority, and having a well-planned process will help greatly toward a more predictable and less chaotic response during an unexpected occurrence,” Superintendent Ferrick said.