As part of the Supporting Children and Students Act, introduced by the Ford government at the end of last month, is a provision whereby public school boards would be required to implement School Resource Officer (SRO) programs in areas where they are offered by local police services.
This is to take effect in the fall.
In 2021, the Thames Valley District School Board hit the pause button on the SRO program board-wide.
Since then, there has been a review of the program, but no indication that the officers were to return to schools.
With the return of the program now imminent, we spoke last week with St. Thomas Police Chief Marc Roskamp, a strong proponent of SROs.
He pointed out, “I’ve been meeting with the board of directors and principals and vice-principals and teachers and parents and my police services board and my city council for years on this issue.
“It’s been a problem for a number of years, where it started as a review committee pre-COVID, then it went through COVID and came to a halt.”
And so the pending legislation is welcome news for Roskamp and the members of the St. Thomas Police Service.
Roskamp continued, “I’m not saying the police are the only answer. What I’m saying is we are a piece of the answer, and in our lane, our attendance, our presence, equals deterrence.
“And if we can put police officers in key locations at key times, that’s part of the right care, right people approach that I believe in, and that we will start to knock down some of this violence just by the fact that we’re present or kids think we may be present at some point.
He added, “And so specifically this legislation would require school boards to engage with our school resource officer program, and it would be a volunteer basis if we wanted to provide that service, which we do.
“And it’s going to create safer, more connected communities by fostering trust and building relationships with youth and teachers and the whole school community. It’s just a proactive presence.”
He stressed, it is about more than just law enforcement.
Roskamp noted, “This is Canada and specifically in Ontario. And our engagement in schools is always based on those shared goals amongst police and educators, and community stakeholders to make school environments safe for all.”
Over the years, the police service has had a half-dozen or more officers who have spent a considerable amount of time building positive relationships with students.
Police officers in schools are not the sole answer, advised Roskamp.
“It should be a consortium of police and mental health professionals and teachers, and educators. And together, that’s how we collaborate. And that’s the vision, the right care, the right people.
Last fall, the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service announced a renewed partnership with the Algoma District School Board and the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board that will herald the return of a full-time, uniformed High School Liaison Officer to local high schools.
According to a release from the police service, “This partnership will provide students, staff, and families with enhanced safety, education, and relationship-building opportunities.”
Police Chief Hugh Stevenson indicated, “We are excited to see the return of a full-time High School Liaison Officer to our schools. It’s important for youth to connect with police officers as people – not just as law enforcement.”
Written by Ian McCallum
