Mayor Spano Boosts School Safety: Orders More Police Patrols + Emergency Drills in Yonkers
With the school year officially underway, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano has taken decisive steps to strengthen public safety across the city. In direct response to the tragic school and church shooting in Minnesota—which killed two children and injured dozens.
Mayor Spano has ordered the Yonkers Police Department (YPD) to increase police patrols and emergency safety drills at schools and houses of worship.
“Our country should never fall numb to these senseless shootings preying on innocent children and worshipers. We must remain vigilant and ensure our children and residents continue to feel safe as they attend school and practice their faith. While our police are always attentive to the potential threats that plague so many communities, our Police Commissioner and his top brass are coordinating a multi-pronged plan to prevent and deter any incidents so our city remains safe and secure.” - Mayor Mike Spano
The mayor confirmed that the YPD, led by Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza, is executing a multi-pronged plan to deter threats and ensure preparedness throughout the school year.
The initiative includes:
Random school safety drills to familiarize officers with campus layouts and emergency access points
“Park & Walk” patrols, where officers physically patrol school grounds or walk through buildings during school hours (with prior coordination)
Directed patrols targeting public schools, private institutions, and houses of worship, especially during religious services and holy days
“As a new school year gets underway, the Yonkers Police Department is keeping a closer watch over our community. The recent tragedy in Minnesota is a reminder that we can never take safety for granted, so we’ve increased our presence around schools, houses of worship, and other sensitive sites. Our partnership in safety with Yonkers Public Schools is a longstanding one, and we thank Mayor Spano for providing us with the resources to implement these measures. Protecting our children, families, and faith communities has always been, and will remain, our highest priority.” - Police Commissioner Sapienza
