Former Sheriff Calls for Political Action After Bend School Tragedy Former King County Sheriff John Urquhart reflects on the October 15 shooting at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, Oregon, urging politicians to enact stronger preventive measures, faster response times, and improved gun control tools to protect children and educators. On October 15, a 16‑year‑old gunman opened fire inside Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, killing three kids and a teacher while critically injuring another child and an educator. A neighbor who followed the shooter inside fired at him, providing valuable intervention that prevented additional casualties. The tragedy quickly became a national conversation about school safety, gun policy, and the role of law enforcement. Former King County Sheriff John Urquhart, who served 43 years on the force, offered his perspective on the crisis during an interview with KIRO Newsradio. He stressed that while emotions run high, tangible policy changes are required.Police Response To Bend ShootingUrquhart described the chaos that unfolded once the first 911 call came in-"someone outside the school reported being shot at," he recounted. Multiple subsequent calls from inside the building queued the police response, and officers arrived within minutes. He highlighted how the shooter "shot his way through locked doors" and how the school's security measures were not sufficient to deter the attack.The former sheriff underscored the emotional toll that such incidents take on officers, especially when they transition from the field to everyday life. He said, "When you're away from it a bit, or when you get home and take your uniform off and really think about what's going on, it hits you in a different way." Beyond recounting the incident, Urquhart called on lawmakers to strengthen prevention efforts. He pointed to Washington's extreme risk protection order (ERPO) system, which allows courts to temporarily remove firearms from people deemed a risk to themselves or others. Though he criticized the system as imperfect, he urged it to be expanded nationwide. The sheriff also advocated for secure storage laws that require households to keep guns locked or temporarily store them outside the home when they are a concern.Prevention Measures And ReportingHe also called for a cultural shift: "There were signals out there that people knew-whether it was parents, friends, or classmates-that something like this was going to happen. They didn't act, and that mindset has to change. That kind of thing has to be reported." Urquhart's criticisms of politicians were as sharp as his praise for proactive police work. He reminded listeners of a recent training drill his office held in August that focused on active‑shooter scenarios. He warned that "response time matters," arguing for increased staffing in both Seattle's police department and the King County Sheriff's Office.He remembered years of battles with county councils and the King County executive to secure funding for more officers, stating that "good response time means people don't die.Political Action On Gun Control" In his closing remarks, he censured politicians who offer only "thoughts and prayers," noting that the "politicians that can do something" are the ones who should enact new safety regulations and gun‑control policies. The broader context of the Bend shooting is chilling: three children aged 5, 8 and 11 were killed, while a 7‑year‑old child and a 54‑year‑old teacher remain in critical condition.The community of Bend came together in the aftermath, with families attending a church gathering to process the loss. The incident has reignited debates over school security-door locks, fencing, and "hardening" a school's architecture-and the possibility of "school resource officers." It also added urgency to calls for comprehensive gun reform, such as universal background checks and stricter licensing. The former sheriff concluded that ultimate change requires decisive political action, not merely symbolic condolences. In the months following the attack, other local officials have been invited to comment on related issues, such as traffic enforcement and homelessness policy in neighboring counties.While those discussions are distinct from the Bend tragedy, they illustrate the broader public desire for tangible legislative solutions over rhetoric. For now, the debate hinges on whether elected officials can rise to the challenge of protecting students and communities in a landscape where firearms can spread rapidly and tragically.