Police in high schools lead to lower crime: Chief
November 18, 2009
Robyn Doolittle, Kristin Rushowy
STAFF REPORTERS
A program that puts police in schools is starting to pay off, says a report released this morning.
Since Toronto officers have been stationed in high schools across the city, crimes have dropped and students who have been victimized are more likely to report it, according to an evaluation of the program launched last year in 30 public and Catholic high schools.
However, although the number of students who feel safe remains high at 90 per cent – virtually unchanged from a year ago – the report says, and students remain reluctant to report witnessing a crime.
Police Chief Bill Blair said he's pleased a vast majority of students feels safe, but realizes there is still work to be done.
"Now our schools are very safe (but) the perception of safety is just as important as the reality of safety. If young people are fearful in the school environment they aren't going to be able to learn," said Blair. "Change doesn't happen overnight. I'm hoping people will give the program a chance to work."
More than 11,500 surveys were distributed to students, teachers and parents last October and this past spring, with 91 per cent of students feeling safe at school, compared with 90 per cent in May.
However, students who had some interaction with a school-based officer were slightly more likely to say they felt safe – 92 per cent – compared to those who had none, with 89 per cent feeling safe.
The May survey also showed that 27 per cent of students had reported being victims of an offence to police, up from 23 per cent a year ago.
It also found that students feel their interactions with police have improved; the number of students reporting an "excellent" relationship grew 13 per cent.
"My officers are doing what they can to create an environment where students can focus on their learning and their education," said Blair. "We are learning to interact with these young people so they know they can count on us."
The report, released at police headquarters, also showed a desire among students that the officers be more involved in day-to-day life and extra-curricular activities.
Toronto District School Board Director Chris Spence spoke briefly this morning, congratulating Blair.
"Shifting perceptions takes time but this is an encouraging first step," he said.
Police officers have been assigned to 50 Toronto public and Catholic high schools this year, up from 30 in the 2008-09 year due to demand.
The schools that took part last year reported a drop in suspensions and criminal charges against students. Violence charges were up slightly, although authorities attributed that to two major incidents at one school that involved a number of students.
Board Chair John Campbell has said that having officers in schools "has proven beneficial to moderating behaviour."
The constables, called school resources officers, or "SROs," are given office space in their home school and spend their days working with teens there and in neighbouring schools. The goal is to build positive relationships with students.
Police pick up the tab for the program, which was Blair's idea. It has come under fire from some trustees and parents who didn't want armed, uniformed officers roaming the halls.
But the city's high schools have been the scene of many troubling incidents, including the shooting death of Jordan Manners in May 2007. A board-sponsored report that found many safety concerns recommended better police-youth interactions, although not armed officers in schools.
Some trustees have said they would be more comfortable if the officers left their weapons at the office and dressed in civilian attire.
Principals and students at most schools have taken to the program and cite many successes – including at North Albion Collegiate Institute, where Const. Ron Chhinzer has even started the school's first football team, soliciting donations to buy equipment.
However, controversy does remain. Parents at Westview Centennial successfully fought off a plan to bring an officer into that school and in October, a small group of students protested the police presence at Northern Secondary School. That protest followed the arrest of a student that was posted on YouTube.
Did phone camera provoke teen in school arrest?
Arrested student suspended from Northern Secondary
thestar.com