Published 6:00 am Saturday, October 24, 2026

Since the Silver Rail Elementary gutted Bend on Oct. 15, there has been plenty of anger and concern over school safety in Central Oregon.

Future security ideas run the gamut — from having more school resource officers to putting bulletproof glass in schools.

Parents organized a protest at the district administration building Friday afternoon to voice their concerns around school safety and security.

Police officers in schools

Bend-La Pine Schools, Bend Police Department and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office all collaborate to staff and fund the school resource officer program.

The school district currently has eight school resource officers who rotate between six or seven schools each. Officers also cover schools for other school resource officers on days off. Officers typically serve three to four years in the role before they return to patrol, said police spokesperson Sheila Miller.…