Officials discuss school safety, shootings

UW chief says shooters usually plan assaults, allowing chance for intervention

MILWAUKEE — The University of Wisconsin-Madison police chief said school shootings almost never happen without the shooter telegraphing his intent ahead of time.

Police Chief Susan Riseling was a panelist Tuesday at a Milwaukee summit of the nation’s attorneys general. The summit’s focus was child safety.

Riseling said in studying school shootings, she’s learned that shooters inevitably plan and prepare their assaults. She said that’s the best time for authorities to intervene, as long as friends of the potential shooter come forward ahead of time.

Colorado officials said they’ve been working on a system to encourage kids to do just that. Colorado chief deputy Attorney General Cynthia Coffman said her state has a program to encourage anonymous tips. She credits it with helping officials thwart 28 planned school shootings since 2004.