Sidney Police, Sheriff’s Office to conduct joint school safety training following hoax call

SIDNEY, Neb. — The Sidney Police Department and Cheyenne County Sheriff’s Office will conduct a joint training exercise later this month following a recent hoax call that prompted an emergency response at Sidney Public Schools.

Police Chief Sam Lovato said the exercise is part of a proactive effort to strengthen coordination between law enforcement and school officials.

The training is scheduled for Monday, March 30, and will take place at Sidney High School and Sidney Middle School. Students will not be in attendance that day.

Officials said residents can expect to see a heavy presence of law enforcement vehicles and emergency responders at both locations during the exercise. School staff will also participate alongside first responders to improve communication and response strategies.

Lovato said while the recent incident was handled quickly, agencies are focused on improving preparedness.

“While we are proud of the rapid action taken during the recent incident, we are committed to the philosophy that there is always room to improve,” Lovato said in a statement.

The training will focus on coordinated response efforts in emergency situations and is expected to serve as a foundation for future exercises across the district.

Officials said the long-term goal is to expand similar training opportunities to all Sidney school buildings, recognizing that each campus presents unique challenges.

“We are taking the lessons learned from recent events and turning them into a safer future for our kids, our faculty, and the entire Sidney community,” Lovato said.

Authorities emphasized the importance of continued collaboration between schools and first responders to ensure a safe learning environment.