Broken Arrow, OK- In two weeks, public school students will be headed back to class.
And on the minds of many parents and school officials is safety.
"We're looking at 2nd and 3rd graders being in gangs," said Mike Wilds, Jr., a criminal justice professor at Northeastern State University, who wrote a book on the gang culture.
Parents know, when it comes to learning some students are up against a lot.
That's why police officers came out Tuesday to Broken Arrow from departments as far away as Valliant, Pouteau and Shawnee.
"Here's some training that we haven't had in this much detail before," said Steve Emmons of CLEET, which along with Tulsa Public Schools, hosted the two-day conference.
The conference covered what officers need to know when faced with things like gangs, drugs and bullying.
"We have good relationships between the schools and law enforcement, but what we want to do is enhance that," said Emmons.
Jared Shea feels confident when his daughter starts the first grade in a couple of weeks, she'll be protected by officers who know what they're doing.
But, he also remembers what it was like to be a student.
"There were things that myself and other students were up against at those times that kids still face today," said Shea.
He also says safety should be priority number one for schools.
"That's the most important thing," he said. "The kids education and their safety. They come home the same way they came to school in the morning. That's all you can hope for."
Tulsa Public Schools is hiring 15 more security guards. TPS Campus Police Chief, Gary Rudick tells me they'll be hired on as district employees, rather than guards working for a private security company. He says he hopes that will lead to better quality police presence on campuses.
