High-speed chases could key lockdown
The Glenns Ferry School District has reached an agreement with the Elmore County Sheriff's Office that will alert school officials when deputies are engaged in a high-speed chase on I-84.
Several weeks ago, Glenns Ferry School District Superintendent Wayne Rush spoke with Elmore County Sheriff Rick Layher asking that the district be told when deputies are in pursuit of a subject.
Rush indicated that in the event of a such an incident the schools would immediately go into lock-down mode until all danger had passed.
The school's close proximity to I-84, the main east/west corridor for Idaho, could place it at risk if would-be criminals exit the freeway and are looking for a safe haven to hold up.
A school building with potentially hundreds of hostages could become such a haven.
Glenns Ferry is the only school district that has requested to be advised of a high-speed chase, Layher said, indicating that its close proximity to I-84 was the main reason he agreed to the program. He said deputies also will be informed about the program.
"Often, we don't know who we're pursuing," Layher said.
Layher said he was glad Rush had brought up the subject, and values input from members of the public who could potentially affect how the department can better provide for the public's safety.
In the event of a high-speed chase, typically one that is leading deputies in an easterly direction (there is no westbound off-ramp at Exit 120), dispatch would immediately notify the school. If manpower is available, Layher indicated, deputies would make every effort to block the off-ramp to prevent the suspect from entering town. "Generally, we don't want them to get into town, or where there are people," Layher noted.
The district will be notified as soon as the subject was apprehended, or was no longer in an area where he/she could pose a threat to the school, Layher said.