Community Corner

Sandy Hook Chief: 'Our Community Felt Unsafe'

Officials from Newtown, CT tell Easton forum about life after Sandy Hook school shooting.

Nothing in Chief Michael Kehoe's experience prepared his department for the Sandy Hook (Ct.) school shooting.

"It was over the top of over the top of over the top," Kehoe told an audience in Easton Wednesday at Lafayette College's annual Forum on Local Government. "There’s no book on this. There’s nothing to refer back to.”

Kehoe, joined by First Selectman E. Patricia Llodra, talked about the challenges of leading their community after the shooting, which killed 26 people at the Sandy Hook Elementary School last December.

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Kehoe told the offiicals in the room not to be afraid to ask for, and accept, help. After the shooting, thousands of Connecticut police officers came to Newtown.

"Many came on their own time," he said. "And realistically, they were needed."

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In addition to the investigation into the shooting—something Kehoe did not discuss—police had to deal with a wave of visitors, protesters and reporters.

"Dr. Oz, Dr. Phil, Nancy Grace, you name it, they came," he said. "It became overwhelming to even think about that."

He said police set up a single point of contact for the media and adopted a similar policy for dealing with the families of victims.

“I think what families do not want to hear from is different officers all the time," Kehoe said.

Police also needed to deal with protesters, counterprotesters, conspiracy theorists and "knuckleheads" making new threats against schools in Newtown.

“They felt unsafe," he said. "Rightfully or wrongfully, our community felt unsafe.”

There were logistical issues, like the visit from President Obama soon after the shooting. The town became crowded, very quickly, Kehoe said.

“A normal trip of five minutes could take a half-hour," he said.

And there were gifts, and letters—so many that the town needed a warehouse to store them. Hundreds of volunteers helped. The town got more than 63,000 stuffed animals, 575 boxes of books, and 250,000 letters.


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