DES MOINES, Iowa — The Des Moines Public School district is honoring its former public safety manager Doug Richardson, who died unexpectedly earlier this year. 

“Though Doug is no longer with us, the lessons he taught and the memories we shared will remain etched in our hearts forever,” Melissa Abbott, health services manager at DMPS, said. “I am proud to announce this is the first cabinet that has been hung at East High School, district-wide, in remembrance of Doug Richardson.”

That first cabinet is part of the district’s Stop the Bleed program. 

Richardson worked with Abbott to equip schools with Stop the Bleed kits in case of an emergency. He was also instrumental in adding Narcan and AEDs to the district’s more than 60 buildings and vehicles.

Richardson’s passion for public and school safety was evident throughout his career. Friends and family say Monday’s dedication was a fitting tribute for him to forever be remembered at East High. 

“East, I would say, was the biggest challenge to keep safe. And if there was one thing about him, he would never back down from a challenge,” Meegan Richardson, Doug’s daughter, said. “He always wanted to go straight into the problem and find a solution that benefited everyone.”

East High School Principal Jill Versteeg said Richardson was always focused on the safety of students and staff. 

“He would always take the chance to sit down and talk with staff members if they had concerns or they weren’t sure why a policy was in place or why a system was in place,” Versteeg said. “He was kind of my right hand to be able to do that and explain those after some pretty tragic events here.”

A federal grant is helping the school district buy 184 kits to equip buildings and athletic facilities.

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