March 29, 2024

SCHOOL RESOURCES OFFICERS MAY BE CUT

(But Newtown, Ct. Shootings may Give Pause)

Posted

The ongoing opinion from some city officials and some on the budget commission that having school resource officers (SRO) in city schools is a luxury that the city can't afford, may have some residents in the city unaware. Some prior city councilmen and at least one city manager wanted to get rid of the jobs. Right now there are three regular police officers assigned to these posts. There is one each at the high school, Martin and Riverside middle schools. The officers are armed and in uniform. They supervise all areas of the schools and often mediate potential skirmishes before they erupt. "The National Association of School Resource Officers (NSRO) issued a statement of sympathy after the recent Newtown, Ct. shootings. In a statement, the NSRO also said this: "The presence of school resource officers in schools has become an important part of the duty to protect children on campus. Statistically speaking, the effectiveness of school resource officers is firmly established. In America, school crime is down: incidences of school-associated deaths, violence, nonfatal victimizations, and theft have all diminished since local police began partnering with school officials. Once schools are made safe, the campuses tend to stay safe." Supporters of school resource officers point to their close partnership with school staff at all levels. "SROs, as a result, possess a skill set unique among both law enforcement and education personnel that enables SROs to protect the community and the campus while supporting the educational mission," says the NSRO.

When the Reporter recently asked the budget commission about rumors that SRO's in East Providence were about to be cut, commission members denied the possibility directly, but they went on to say that there were ongoing labor negotiations that "may have an effect on SRO's" in East Providence. Sources have described an attempt to leave the SRO's at EPHS, MMS and RMS but to "call them out to cover police shifts in the city in lieu of more staff or overtime." This will mean that one or more of the city's three secondary schools could often go hours or days without any SRO coverage when police shifts or details need coverage. The city's nine elementary schools do not have any SRO's assigned. Secondary SRO's will respond to an elementary school if requested and regular patrols are known for responding quickly to any school when dispatched.

"I hope we keep the SRO's in our schools. The SRO's, particularly at Martin Middle School with the odd classroom configurations and the cutting of House Leaders, has been very helpful in keeping that school safe. The SRO's are vital to every school that they are in," said School Board Chair, Joel Monteiro. Many school officials have come to support police in the schools. EPHS guidance counselor and coach, Rob Traverse strongly supports the SRO presence. "As a parent (Traverse is the father of two children attending EPHS) I want to say thank you to our SRO. This is a large high school with many doors and no intercom system. As a teacher I recently didn't see the high school as I see it now. Since the SRO's and other efforts, it's been cleaned up a lot. Sometimes there is a price associated with this sense of safety," continued Traverse.

Gregg Amore is the new RI State Representative for District 65, a parent of school age children and a teacher and former coach at EPHS. "I would suggest that expanding the program to each school is really the most reasonable policy reaction to the events in Newtown. Restrictions on assault weapons and addressing inadequate access to mental health treatment are both part of the equation but a police presence in schools is a proven deterrent," said Amore. Amore likes the SRO presence in the high school. "The work of school resource officers is tremendously under-appreciated. We have to decide where our budgetary priorities are. Reducing the number of school resource officers should be unacceptable to the community," Amore added.

However, the tragic loss of young life in Newtown, Connecticut may be a catalyst to help keep the SRO's alive in East Providence and elsewhere. In a conversation with EP police chief, Joseph Tavares, it was evident that he is supporting the SRO presence in EP schools. "Certainly, with the recent news with school safety (Newtown, Ct.), makes it such that any review of cutting SRO's is on the back burners," said Tavares. Tavares was very adamant about the need to work closely with school, fire and police as a "team". "If anything, we want to add security. I support looking anywhere for the ability to fund this. We must protect our children and set all egos aside," added Tavares.

Ward 4 city councilperson, Chrissy Rossi, was very upset at the prospect of losing SRO officers. "I asked the question at the council meeting but no one is addressing this issue directly. There are ways of allotting police funds to keep these SRO officers in our schools. We have already cut programs in our city to the marrow. I will not let this city fail to protect our school children," Rossi said

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