CAHOKIA HEIGHTS, Ill. (First Alert 4) – A 33-page school safety plan now serves as the frontline defense for students in the Cahokia Unit School District. This initiative was born following a shooting that left an 11-year-old boy injured.
Cahokia Heights Police Chief Thomas Trice developed the extensive safety plan, inspired by the young boy who was struck in the head by a stray bullet while riding his bike. Although the boy survived, the incident sparked a transformational shift in how the department approaches school safety.
The urgency of the plan is supported by data. Trice pointed to a 2024 Department of Health report citing firearms as the leading cause of death for teenagers, surpassing health-related issues…