In the wake of the Connecticut school shooting, the Costa Mesa Police Department is taking several proactive measures to enhance student safety on school campuses, including the hiring of recently retired Police Officer Jess Gilman to work on the City’s two high school campuses.
Gilman’s return to Costa Mesa and Estancia high schools as a reserve officer is one of several steps the City is taking in conjunction with the Newport-Mesa Unified School District to increase student safety. Other measures will include a review of school security practices and security personnel options, drills to simulate emergency situations, daily patrols of school campuses, and the imminent filling of vacant police officer positions, which will allow for added school resource officers as early as the spring.
“While school security remains the responsibility of the District,” said Police Chief Tom Gazsi, “the City will continue to support these endeavors in a collaborative, aggressive and proactive way.”
“We have enjoyed a collaborative relationship with the City,” said Newport Mesa Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Fred Navarro,” the District is excited that Officer Jess Gilman is returning as a Reserve Police Officer and School Resource Officer. We look forward to continue working with the City to design and develop a model that will continue to make our schools the safest possible.”
Officials with the Costa Mesa Police Department and School District are currently meeting to review District security plans. The Police Department regularly trains for a variety of aggressive behaviors in a number of settings, including schools, colleges, shopping centers, theaters and other sites.
The City of Costa Mesa expects to hire four police officers by mid-January and will add additional fulltime and reserve officers shortly thereafter. The positions are budgeted.
