The director of the Iowa Department of Public Safety says the staff and students at Perry High School responded appropriately and heroically during the shooting in January as they found secure locked locations. In his first in-depth discussion of the fatal shooting investigation, Stephan Bayens (steven BAINS) pointed out other important actions from that day.

He says that allowed a quick response from police. Bayens also detailed the actions Principal Dan Marburger took to try and stop the shooter Dylan Butler. He says Marburger said Butler’s names several times to try and get through to him.

Bayens says that action saved lives.

Marburger was shot and died ten days later. Bayens says Perry police officer Micaela Zager _Muh-kay-luh Zayg-er) was inside the school two minutes and 59 seconds after the emergency radio was activated.

Bayens says that is exactly what law enforcement officers are expected to do, and the community of Perry should be extremely proud of Micaela Zager. Bayens says he watched body cam footage of what happened inside the high school when officers arrived. He says he could see in their eyes that they were fierce protectors looking to protect the kids.

He says we should be incredibly proud of the police officers for their ability to do that and the compassion that they showed in the midst of horrible circumstances. Bayens made his comments at a new conference Friday.

Dar Danielson, Radio Iowa