Honking vehicles and voices exclaiming the need for police presence in schools could be heard from outside the Greater Victoria school boardB次元官网网址檚 office on Feb. 26.
The Greater Victoria School District (SD61) board hasnB次元官网网址檛 had a school police liaison officer (SPLO) since the end of May 2023 and a collective of twelve parents and students protested for their return.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 extremely important to have (SPLOs) in schools because these officers are able to connect to youth and help divert worries and behaviours,B次元官网网址� said Lori Poppe a member of Parents and Police Together.
The mother is worried about gang activity in Greater Victoria schools. Sharing the same concerns, Victoria Police Chief Del Manak made statements about the increased gang activity in SD61 during a meeting that followed the rally. VicPD has not had a SPLO since 2018.
B次元官网网址淢ost schools in the Greater Victoria area have students involved in these gang-initiated trafficking schemes and just last month we made our first arrest of a gang-affiliated member who was actively recruiting youth in parking lots across from a number of schools, during the school day,B次元官网网址� said the Chief in a statement from the meeting.
B次元官网网址淭his is just one person of many who has been observed and we continue to work on targeting these activities.B次元官网网址�
The SPLO program ended after budget shortfalls, but Manak as a former officer himself is insisting that the program be restarted.
B次元官网网址淧olice in schools are a direct deterrent to gang involvement and other concerning, criminal or violent activity that targets and impacts vulnerable youth,B次元官网网址� said Manak.
Oak Bay Police concurred with VicPD expressing they were disappointed to see the cancellation of the police program.
B次元官网网址淓arly intervention is something that allows us to engage and provide support at the earliest possible opportunity, which in many cases can keep youth out of the criminal justice system,B次元官网网址� Chief Constable Mark Fisher told Black Press Media in a statement. B次元官网网址淐ommunity policing is a core piece of our service delivery model and having that ability for SPLOs to build strong relationships with students and staff makes for a stronger and safer community.B次元官网网址�
B.C.B次元官网网址檚 human rights commissioner recommended 2022 ending the school officer programs until their impact could be established empirically. The recommendation called on school boards wanting to keep the programs in place to provide independent evidence of the need for service offered by police that civilian alternatives couldnB次元官网网址檛 provide.
Manak called out the SD61 addressing the job SPLOs had in schools and how other providers have not filled those roles.
B次元官网网址淭hey (SPLOs) have not been replaced with social workers, counsellors, or mental health workers as promised, and I would argue that they cannot be replaced. The role of an SPLO is much different than any of these providers could take on and they are not police professionals or experts in crime prevention or criminal investigations.B次元官网网址�
The school board told Black Press Media they decided not to issue a statement.
B次元官网网址淲e just want the school board to open up dialogue and revisit this issue and really take seriously what our kids are going through in schools right now,B次元官网网址� said Poppe. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e invited them to several gang seminars and sadly not one has gone to any of them yet. They need to know whatB次元官网网址檚 happening and they need to know that these are our partners.B次元官网网址�
West Shore RCMP is hosting an upcoming seminar on gang education. On March 4, starting at 6:15 p.m., the RCMP is encouraging parents, teachers, youth, and the community to attend.
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