Twenty students at an elementary school in California fell ill on Tuesday after being exposed to tear gas and pepper spray that drifted onto their campus. The incident occurred at Portola Elementary School in San Bruno during a training exercise conducted by the San Francisco Sheriff's Office at the nearby San Bruno Jail.
According to a source, the sheriff's office was engaged in an indoor training session involving chemical agents when tear gas from the exercise dispersed outside and reached the school, which is situated approximately a mile away from the jail. Students and teachers reported experiencing irritation in their eyes, nose, and throat as a result of the exposure.
The sheriff's office, which stated that such an incident had never transpired in the 20 years of training at the jail, issued a formal apology to Portola Elementary School, its staff, students, and families. The office expressed regret for the unforeseen event and acknowledged the distress it may have caused, particularly to the children.
In response to the incident, the sheriff's office announced a temporary halt to all training involving chemical agents. The safety and well-being of the school community are of utmost importance, and steps are being taken to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
