Weast finds money for police, not teachers
Final plan depends on approval of proposed budget
by Andre L. Taylor
Seventeen Educational Facilities Officers will work in Montgomery County public schools next school year, but county police will not foot the bill...
...Montgomery County Public Schools agreed to pay for 17 Montgomery County Police officers in the schools, he said. The bill for the school system will be a little more than $1.9 million, Andrews said...
Just how dangerous are our high schools that we need armed police officers? Why aren't security guards sufficient? Are there stats on how many arrests the EFOs perform or are they there as a deterrent factor? If they are only there as a deterrent factor, how many crimes do they deter as opposed to security officers?
ReplyDeleteSpend a day inside certain high schools and you will see why a police officer is needed. In some schools fights are a daily occurrance. A security officer cannot make an arrest but a police officer can. Many security officers have no experience in conducting investigations while police officers can do that.
ReplyDeleteFunny how things have changed. When the introduction of police officers into the schools was proposed almost every PTA, citizens group, and "progressive" person was dead set against it. Now they are fighting to keep the officers.
911 - That's what 911 is for. Call that number and a police officer will arrive. No reason to have one standing around a school all day in addition to the security staff.
ReplyDeleteYou have no idea how quickly a fight can explode inside a high school. Within 20 seconds about 300 onlookers will rush to the scene of the fight causing a very dangerous situation. Calling 911 is a pie in the sky suggestion. The response time could be over five minutes and by then students and staff could be/are injured.
ReplyDeleteIn addition there have been several serious crimes and plots uncovered by the officers stationed in the schools because they know the students and some have come to the officers in confidence and revealed who is responsible.
Every single high school in MCPS has some kind of drug problem. Even the downcounty and "W" schools. Officers have the resources not only to make arrests, but to scientifically i.d. substances. And it happens A LOT more then you'd think.
ReplyDeleteProve that police officers in schools have any use. If the police officers are needed then produce the data to show what they do.
ReplyDeleteAt one "W" school at least 3 students have been cold cocked while in school. Having a police car parked at the front door meant nothing. It did nothing to protect the students and nothing to punish the aggressors. Police officers in schools don't have super powers and must still follow the laws that govern their responsibility.
Is there any way to find out how many arrests take place on school campuses per school year? This hard data must be available somewhere?
ReplyDeleteIf an EFO detains a student in possession of "a substance," does he then arrest the student then and there? Do they maintain chain of evidence until "the substance" is identified? or do they seize the "substance," release the student, and then arrest them later (not on campus) when the "substance" is positively identified as being prohibited?