HINESVILLE, Ga. () — The Hinesville Police Department (HPD) released a statement on the increased police presence in schools.s

On Sunday afternoon, HPD addressed the increase in law enforcement presence in elementary schools in Hinesville after parents expressed concerns on social media:

“Due to a current shortage of school resource officers, HPD officers have volunteered to help by working at local elementary schools during their days off.”

The statement said that HPD’s assistance was requested by the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) and the Board of Education to ensure security in local schools. Police also said that the measure is temporary and there is no cause for concern.

HPD’s assistance will finish once the School Resource Officer Division is fully staffed.

“We’d also like to express our sincere appreciation to the HPD officers who have stepped up to support our schools and community during this time, volunteering their time to work on their days off to help keep our children safe.”

You can read the full statement here.