BUDGET CUTS THREAT TO SCHOOL OFFICERS

Officer: Drugs Are Big Problem In High School

On a recent weekday morning, a class of Hatties-burg High School
ninth-graders talked about their experiences with drugs and alcohol
with a few cops.

C.O.P.S., that is. Short for Community-Oriented Polic-ing Services,
these two Hattiesburg Police Depart-ment officers spend their days
patrolling city schools and talking to classes about serious issues
students face.

"School now is not like it was when I was in school," said officer
Stephen Newell, who is assigned to N.R. Burger Middle School and Mary
Bethune Alternative School. "I didn't even know what marijuana was
until I was a junior in high school."

But Davis and Newell's jobs could be in jeopardy if President George
W. Bush's proposed budget is approved by Congress.

The C.O.P.S. officers' salaries are paid by a three-year, $250,000
federal grant that expires this year, said police spokeswoman Robin
Walker.

"We have many grants that we receive, and the potential for those
grants to be renewed can be hurt by this proposed budget," she said.

The proposed budget would cut to $60 million the current $600 million
law enforcement grant program.

But drugs are a big problem at Hattiesburg High School, said officer
Tyrone Davis, who works there.

"Since school started after Christmas break, I've made about 12
arrests for marijuana," he said.

Davis also intercepted a man on school grounds Jan. 31 who had much
more than marijuana. Christopher Harris, 22, of Hattiesburg, allegedly
had 1.5 ounces of the drug, one-eighth of an ounce of powder cocaine,
43 Ecstasy pills and a loaded handgun, Davis said.

The C.O.P.S. officers differ from traditional school resource officers
because those officers are worked into the school district's budget,
Walker said.

And students say they appreciate having the extra security.

"They make sure we're in a safe environment," said Eric Horton, 15, a
ninth-grader at the freshman academy. "If they left, the kids would be
able to do more bad things and there wouldn't be as many people to
break up fights."

Newell said the most difficult part of the officers' jobs is getting
through to the students.

"They look at us as police officers and they have a negative frame of
mind toward them," he said. "They go home at night and watch videos
depicting police as the oppressors. It's hard to break through that
and get them to realize police are actually here to help."