Statement from Mount Vernon Richard Thomas.

In the wake of a deadly school shooting on Tuesday in Denver, Colorado, Mayor Richard Thomas is reminding the public that his administration has taken many steps to ensure public safety. "We are vigilantly protecting our schools and houses of worship from the threat of violence in all forms especially active shooters," Mayor Thomas said Wednesday. "This is why the Mount Vernon Police Department offers active shooter training for both Mount Vernon residents and local businesses." The Tuesday shooting at the Colorado STEM School Highlands Ranch, a public charter school with more than 1,850 students in kindergarten through 12th grade, left one student dead and eight students injured. "As mayor, I made protecting our children a major priority to ensure that we have safety at home and in our schools," said Mayor Thomas. Efforts to protect children include an active My Brother's Keeper program in the public schools and a regular Coffee with a Cop program, which will offer another session tonight. The Coffee with a Cop program is designed to improve relations between the police and the public they serve. "This has gone a long way to build trust on both sides of the badge, resulting in a sharp drop in crime in our community and a sharp rise in community engagement and youth programs. There are about 12 police officers stationed in the Mount Vernon schools. Other programs, such as the Mayor's Healthy Homes Initiative's juvenile justice program and the Healthy Foods program are designed to give young people alternatives to violence. "We certainly did this under extreme constraints, including the unfunding of my administration," said Mayor Thomas. "We invite you to coffee with a cop tonight, and in the meantime, we will take steps to protect Mount Vernon and protect our way of life." What: Coffee with a Cop When: Wednesday, May 8 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Where: Fresh Start Christian Center, 115 S. MacQuesten Parkway STAY CONNECTED:

City of Mount Vernon, NY, 1 Roosevelt Square, City Hall, Mount Vernon, NY 10550