Review of Oxford High School Shooting Response Called For By Oakland County Board Chair
In Oakland County, the head of the County’s Board of Commissioners is pressing for an outside examination of the emergency response to the tragic Oxford High School shooting that took place in 2021. This comes in light of recent reports that question the speed and tactics employed by law enforcement on that fateful day when four students were killed and seven others injured.
David Woodward, the Board Chairman, who’s also from Royal Oak, wants to make this independent review a requirement for all such devastating incidents that happen within the county. His hope is not only to clarify the facts but also to learn and improve from past events. He voices concern that “if an event like this happens again, we should be better coordinated, better trained and better able to respond.”
Controversy Over Timeline of Emergency Response
Two local fire chiefs have expressed discomfort about the supposed delay in their call to action by Oakland County Sheriff’s Office dispatchers. They say they had to take matters into their own hands and dispatch their teams to the site. This has led victims’ families to renew the plea for a comprehensive ‘after action review’. It’s a common practice pursued after other school shootings across the nation.
The Oakland County Sheriff, however, had previously declined to participate in such an undertaking. Now, he is indicating his openness to take part in an independent review. This change may have been influenced by the county’s ongoing fiscal budget discussions, which could make available the required funds for the review.
Future Reviews and Funding
Chairman Woodward is eager to take a proactive approach to future incident reviews. He wants not just the county to put in money, but also the state to contribute to these vital reviews. He feels strongly that any review should be done by an independent agency soon after the incident occurs. “If there is an breakdown, let’s identify it and fix it,” he says.
The Chairman is hopeful there won’t be any resistance from the board to the funding. He also comments that such reviews should be initiated closer to the event under evaluation.
State-Level Response
The victims’ families have reached out to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel also, requesting an investigation into the shooting response. They have also made a plea to the State Board of Education for the Michigan Legislature to finance an independent inquiry into the terrible incident. So far, there has been no specific response from any state legislator to this request.
One State Board of Education representative, meanwhile, is calling for a bipartisan committee to be set up to look into the incident, saying “This is going to be our only shot.”
In the end, it is clear that there is still much to be resolved surrounding the tragic Oxford High School shooting incident reaction. With time and a commitment to truth and accountability, it’s hoped that the answers needed will emerge.
