As students return to class this fall, they do so on the heels of a tragic shooting event in Uvalde, Texas that occurred as school was dismissing in Iowa.

Pella Police Captain Paul Haase says many school administrators locally intend to reinforce safety policies in place and explore other options to ensure that students are as safe as possible when they return on August 23rd.

He says the community can support those leaders by adhering to all policies issued every time they visit a building and by encouraging their students to report any strange behavior they may notice on social media or in the hallways to their administrators, teachers, parents, and police.

Haase knows that while Pella is one of the safest communities in Iowa on an annual basis, he says their department trains frequently to ensure they are ready if the worst of the worst does happen locally.