In light of the horrific mass shooting at the elementary school in Connecticut, the Gwinnett County Police Department will be conducting increased police patrols in and around the schools within Gwinnett County, according to Public Information Officer Cpl. Edwin Ritter.

"These increased patrols will be a joint effort with the Gwinnett County School Police and Uniformed Officers with the Gwinnett County Police Department," he said on Friday afternoon in a press release. "Officers will be assigned to every school within Gwinnett County Police Jurisdiction and these patrols will last for the next several days."

The Gwinnett County Police Department takes the safety and welfare of all of the citizens within Gwinnett County seriously. The Department is conducting this proactive measure to help prevent any type of “Copy Cat” or similar incident from occurring within Gwinnett County.