Two members of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s SWAT unit who stormed a Platte Canyon High School classroom Wednesday had also responded to the 1999 shootings at Columbine High School.
“It was a difficult day,” sheriff’s spokeswoman Jacki Kelley said of Wednesday. “There isn’t another SWAT team in the country that has had to respond to two school shootings.”
The Columbine experience also has been tapped by the Platte Valley School District, which has asked for assistance from Marilyn Saltzman, whose tenure as a Jefferson County Schools spokeswoman included the Columbine tragedy.
“Unfortunately, I have the expertise, or fortunately, depending on how you look at it,” Saltzman said. “I’m helping with communications with the community. It is tough for everyone.”
Brian Rohrbough, whose son Danny was killed at Columbine, spent Thursday at the Platte Canyon Community Church in Bailey, where he is a member.
He said he has no advice for the family of Emily Keyes, who died after the hostage standoff.
“I wouldn’t give advice,” said Rohr bough. “There’s no set script for how you feel, how you deal with it. I just want them to know that a lot of people care, and their daughter’s life had true value.”
Hundreds of Bailey students, teachers and families drifted in and out of the church.
Young members of Light of the World Catholic Church in south Jefferson County will sign their wishes and prayers on posters at Sunday Mass and will send them to the Bailey community, said youth minister Shaun Garrison.
Not only has the Bailey community had a similar experience, but “they’re our next-door neighbor, right over the border in Park County,” said Jeanne Oliver, spokeswoman for the Jefferson Center for Mental Health.
“We’re on standby waiting for somebody to call us in. We learned from the Columbine experience not to rush in until you’re invited,” Oliver said. “There’s a good chance in the next few days and weeks we’ll be working there because this is not a one- or two-day thing.”
Several Jefferson County Schools counselors have gone to Bailey to help. Spokeswoman Lynn Setzer said teachers who were at Columbine in 1999 have volunteered to assist Platte Canyon High School.
Columbine principal Frank DeAngelis left a message for Platte Canyon principal Bryan Krause offering help. Columbine students have told DeAngelis they are interested in doing something for the Platte Canyon students, although that hasn’t been decided.
Thursday morning, during a planned “Spirit Week” assembly in the gym, Columbine students held hands and observed a moment of silence for the Bailey students.
Staff writer Allison Sherry contributed to this report.
Staff writer Ann Schrader can be reached at 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
