School Resource Officers and Security Staff Overview October
School Resource Officers’ and Security Staff Overview October 22, 2020 Barry L. Stanton, Chief Operating Officer 1
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION Alvin Thornton, Ph. D. , Chair Edward Burroughs III, Vice Chair David Murray, District 1 Joshua M. Thomas, District 2 Pamela Boozer-Strother, District 3 Bryan Swann, District 4 Raaheela Ahmed, District 5 Belinda Queen, District 6 K. Alexander Wallace, District 7 Sonya Williams, District 9 D. Paul Monteiro, Jr. Sandra D. Shephard Curtis Valentine, M. P. P. Ninah Jackson, Student Board Member Monica Goldson, Ed. D. , Secretary/Treasurer and Chief Executive Officer 2
Agenda • State Perspective for School Resource Officers (SRO’s) • History of SRO’s • Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) • Training of SRO’s and School Security Staff • Duties of SRO’s • Arrest Powers • Type of Student Charges • Arrest By Grade, School Level and Gender • Next Steps • Questions 3
School Resource Officers – State Perspective The Maryland Center for School Safety • The purpose of the Maryland Center for School Safety (MCSS) is to establish a coordinated and comprehensive policy for school safety in Maryland. MCSS was established in July 2013. MCSS coordinates training pertaining to the acquiring and sustaining best/promises practices in promoting positive school environment related to prevention and intervention strategies. SB 1265, Maryland Safe to Learn Act of 2018 • The bill requires public high schools to have either a school resource officer or plans for adequate law enforcement coverage by the upcoming school year. Public middle and elementary schools will need to have either a school resource officer or plans for adequate law enforcement coverage in place prior to the 2019 2020 school year. Note: Currently, SROs are only assigned to high schools. Security officers with arrest powers are assigned to high and middle School Resource Officers • By September 1, 2018, MCSS, in consultation with local school systems, were required to develop a specialized curriculum to be used in training SROs that addresses specified issues. The curriculum was to be submitted to the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission (MPTSC) for approval. By March 1, 2019, MCSS must develop and submit to MPTSC for approval a model training program based on the curriculum. Each L ocal Law Enforcement Agency were required to enroll SROs either in (1) the MCSS model training program or (2) a local training program approved by MPTSC that is consistent with the approved curriculum. All SROs were required to complete an approved specialized training program by September 1, 2019. 4
History of School Resource Officers (SROs) in PGCPS In the 1990’s, there was a strong need to have police officers in schools to reduce crimes and serve as role models. Prince George’s County witnessed a surge in homicides and other violent crimes involving its youth. Through grant funds: • • The first SRO and was assigned to Eleanor Roosevelt High School. . The second SRO and was assigned to Northwestern High School in 1998. Prince George's County Police Department and Maryland Park followed in 1999. On November 8, 1999, the Hyattsville City Police Department, assigned an SRO to Northwestern High School on a full time basis. • Some notable Information : Ø The SRO arrested 48 people during SY 1999 Ø School Security arrested 35 people during SY 1999 Ø In 1998 1999 School Year police responded to Northwestern High School 327 times. Ø In 1999 2000 school year the police, other than the School Resource Officer responded to the school only 56 times, this was reduction of 271 calls for service (83% reduction). 5
PGCPS Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) MISSION • The Parties enter into this Agreement for the purpose of establishing and improving the School Resource Officer Program, defining specific duties and responsibilities, and establishing a working protocol for exchanging information and addressing matters of concern cooperatively with the goal of maintaining and enhancing a safe and secure learning environment for students, staff, and the PGCPS school community within Prince George's County, Maryland TERM • The Board of Education (BOE) has four standing arrangements with local police departments to provide SROs to predetermined schools. These MOUs include Prince George’s Police Department, Hyattsville Police Department, Bowie Police Department and Greenbelt City Police Department • Bowie Police Department, Hyattsville Police Department and Greenbelt City Police Department MOUs expired on June 30, 2020. Each Department is paid $80, 000 per year by the County; no direct cost to PGCPS • Prince George’s Police Department’s MOU is set to expire on June 30, 2022. There is no cost to PGCPS for the SRO’s. 6
Training by School Resource Officers The Safe to Learn Act of 2018 mandates either the assignment of an SRO or adequate law enforcement coverage for each individual school within each of Maryland’s twenty four local school systems. Any Maryland school without assigned SRO’s would still need to ensure that an individual with expertise in law enforcement was assigned to serve on the behavioral assessment teams serving the school system to comply with the Safe to Learn Act. • SROs and school security employees in Maryland receive instruction in Maryland’s five day SRO training curriculum; yet, individuals providing “adequate law enforcement coverage” to schools without assigned SROs are not required to complete this comprehensive training. • Topics required by law to be covered in Maryland’s SRO training curriculum include De escalation, Disability Awareness, Maintaining a Positive School Climate, Constructive Interactions with Students, Implicit Bias, and Disability and Diversity Awareness with specific attention to Racial and Ethnic Disparities. • Maryland’s SRO training prepares the SRO to fulfill four distinct roles within a the school community: 1. The Role of Educator 2. The Role of Emergency Manager 3. The Role of Informal Counselor 4. The Role of Law Enforcement 7
Duties of School Resource Officers • SROs will acknowledge the authority of the principal, as the administrator of the school, at all times as to matters within the scope of his/her authority. • The SROs will assist school staff in enhancing safety inside their assigned schools and serve as a liaison between his/her agency and PGCPS officials for school and police related concerns and incidents. • The SRO will present visible presence and serve as a positive role model for students. • The SRO will assist in fostering amiable working relationships between law enforcement, staff and students. • Unless there are extenuating circumstances, such as rumors of a fight or some other serious event, the SRO will patrol the school and the school grounds on a random schedule. (Personnel other than SROs should staff assignments to stationary or fixed posts on school grounds. ) • The use of force by an SRO will be done in a reasonable manner in accordance with the Police Department's Use of Force General Order. Any use of force by the SRO will be investigated by the Police Department according to regulations. The SRO should be familiar with PGCPS' s Student Safety Administrative Procedures. 8
SRO Roles and Responsibilities with Administration The Principal is responsible for administering and supervising the total school program, including the safety and security of student and staff and providing educational leadership for the students and staff consistent with the educational goals of the community. In the event that a student misbehaves, the principal or his/her designee will be the primary source of administrative disciplinary consequences and intervention pursuant to the PGCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities. • Principal and staff shall be responsible for classroom and student discipline; • Principal and staff shall be responsible for enforcement of PGCPS rules policies and procedures; • Principals also should meet on a quarterly basis with their Police Commanders or their designees to provide feedback on their SROs. • Both parties must agree to meet at a mutually agreeable time upon request to address issues that may have arisen out of the performance of this Agreement. • Principal will follow PGCPS Students' Rights and Responsibilities Handbook, policies, administrative procedures and state law in application of student discipline, and • Principal will communicate with the SRO should any situation evolve or reveal itself to be a life threatening or law enforcement matter. . 9
Personnel with Arrest Powers There are 33 SROs with arrest powers that are assigned to work high schools only. Department of Safety and Security Services has 66 School Security Staff with arrest powers. School Security Officers do not carry weapons. The only armed personnel in schools are SROs. • Total Number of School Resource Officers= (33) Prince George’s County Police 28 Bowie Police Department 2 Greenbelt Police Department 1 Hyattsville City Police Department – 2 • Total School Security Staff with Arrest Powers= (66) • Total Number of School Security Staff and SROs with Arrest Powers = (99) 10
Type of Charges by SRO’s and School Security Staff Extortion Serious Bodily Injury Drugs/Controlled Substances Other Weapons Attack on Adults Fighting Firearm Sale of Controlled Substance Destruction of Property Attack on Students Firearm on School Property Threat to Student Disruption Theft 11
Arrest By Grade, School Level, Gender and Ethnicity SY 2019/2020 (274 Arrest) School Level • High Schools 232 • Middle Schools 35 • Combined Schools 7 Gender • • Males 184 Females 90 Ethnicity • American Indian 1 • Asian 2 • African American 235 • Hispanic 33 • • White 2 More than one race 1 Total – 274 Arrests (SRO’s 32 or 11. 67%) 12
Arrest By Grade, School Level, Gender and Ethnicity Continue: SY 2019/2020 (274 Arrest) Grade 12 th Grade 11 th Grade 10 th Grade 9 th Grade 8 th Grade 23 30 55 (20. 0%) 127 (46. 3%) 16 7 th Grade 20 6 th Grade 3 Repeat Offenders – Student arrested two or times in a school year • • 13 students were repeat offenders 27 arrests are attributed to those 13 students 13
Arrest By Grade, School Level, Gender and Ethnicity Continue: SY 2019/2020 (274 Arrest) Special Education (SPED) Arrests Male - 184 SPED No SPED Yes Female – 90 SPED – No SPED – Yes 139 45 84 6 Total SPED Arrests – 51 (18. 6%) 14
Arrest By Grade, School Level, Gender, and Ethnicity SY 2018/2019 (311 Arrest) School Level High Schools 272 Middle Schools 27 Combined Schools – 10 Elementary 2 Gender • Males 219 • Females 92 Ethnicity • American Indian 0 • Asian 0 • African American 270 • Hispanic 31 • White 4 • More than one race – 6 Total – 311 Arrests (SRO’s 38 or 12. 21%)) 15
Arrest By Grade, School Level and Ethnicity Continue: SY 2018/2019 (311 Arrest) Grade 12 th Grade 11 th Grade 10 th Grade 9 th Grade 8 th Grade 33 46 91 (29. 2%) 110 (35. 3%) 12 7 th Grade 14 6 th Grade 3 5 th Grade 2 Repeat Offenders – Student arrested two or times in a school year • • 17 students were repeat offenders 39 arrests are attributed to those 17 students 16
Arrest By Grade, School Level and Ethnicity Continue: SY 2018/2019 (311 Arrest) Special Education (SPED) Arrests Male - 219 SPED No 167 SPED Yes 52 Female – 92 SPED – No SPED – Yes 81 11 Total SPED Arrests – 63 (20. 2%) 17
Arrest By Grade, School Level and Ethnicity SY 2017/2018 (350 Arrest) School Level High Schools 295 Middle Schools 41 Combined Schools 10 Elementary – 4 Gender • Males 226 • Females 124 Ethnicity • American Indian 10 • Asian 1 • African American 305 • Hispanic 0 • White 23 • More than one race – 7 Hawaiian 4 Total – 350 Arrests (* SRO Arrest data not available) 18
Arrest By Grade, School Level and Ethnicity Continue: 2017/2018 (350 Arrest) Grade 12 th Grade 11 th Grade 10 th Grade 9 th Grade 21 46 87 (24. 8%) 136 (38. 8%) 8 th 7 th 6 th 5 th 4 th 3 rd 20 19 13 6 1 1 Grade Grade Repeat Offenders – Student arrested two or times in a school year • • 27 students were repeat offenders 60 arrests are attributed to those 27 students 19
Arrest By Grades, School Level and Ethnicity Continue: SY 2017/2018 (350 Arrest) Special Education (SPED) Arrests Male - 226 SPED No 144 SPED Yes 82 Female- 124 SPED – No SPED – Yes 108 16 Total SPED Arrests – 98 (28. 0%) 20
PGCPS Recommended Next Steps • Survey Students, Parents and Staff to allow their voice to be heard • Reduce the arrest powers of internal PGCPS Security Staff • Create a crisis prevention model in partnership with the Department of Social Services and provide additional funding for quality after school programs for students and families in targeted communities. • Continue to increase mental health support provided to students over the next 3 years. • Create a Diversion Program with the Office of State’s Attorney 21
Questions 22
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