Sheriff, law enforcement get thanks from educator

As most of you know, we’ve been dealing with a cyber terrorism situation in the Flathead Valley. I have read several letters in regard to how the situation was handled. I, for one, can tell you I am thankful to live in a community with law enforcement and school administration who care a great deal about the kids and the community they serve.

This situation was approached with a high priority on not only student safety, but the community as a whole. I can speak from first-hand knowledge of the professionalism and leadership shown by Sheriff Chuck Curry. We all have our opinions about how to handle these types of situations, but I can tell you our law enforcement did an incredible job making sure everyone was safe, especially during a time of such new and unusual circumstances.

Local school administrators worked side by side with law enforcement to make sure they had all the information they needed to make the right decisions for schools. This collaboration gave administrators the information they needed, and in turn, communication with our families and community was consistent and timely.

I want to thank Chuck Curry and all of the law enforcement officers who helped during this troubling time. Their actions truly helped calm the nerves of school administration, which in turn helped us maintain calm throughout our buildings and districts.

It’s easy to play Monday morning quarterback and throw stones in judgment about how this situation may or may not have been handled. Let’s put the stones down and thank law enforcement for the great job they did in handling this tough situation. When you get a chance, tell Sheriff Curry and all of the law enforcement in the area, thank you for a job well done!

Ketchum is superintendent of the West Valley School District.