POLICE GO BACK TO HIGH SCHOOLS

Officers To Warn Against Drugs, Gangs, Violence

HARLINGEN -- Uniformed police officers on duty will be regular sights
at the city's two high schools when students return to classes next month.

During a July 6 city commission meeting, commissioners voted
unanimously to allow the city to assign uniformed officers to
Harlingen High School South and Harlingen High School during the
2005-2006 school year.

Commissioners also voted unanimously to allow police officers to
participate in school district programs aimed at warning students of
the dangers of drugs, gangs and violence.

Tricia Morrow, assistant superintendent for elementary education,
said the school district is thankful for its relationship with local police.

"We've been very fortunate to have the cooperation with HPD," she
said. "It's been a very productive program and our students have
benefited from it."

As part of the agreement, two officers will be assigned to Harlingen
High School, and a third will be stationed at Harlingen High School South.

"They are there full time (just) like the other staff members on
campus. They respond to anything, like an administrator that deals
with student safety issues," Morrow said. "They take their directions
from a campus principal just like anyone else on campus."

As part of the district's SAVE -- Substance Abuse, Violence and
Education -- program, HPD officers will instruct district
fifth-graders on the dangers of drugs and gangs.

Officers meet with fifth-graders for nine-week blocks at each
elementary school. Morrow said that if time permits, officers will
move on to fourth-graders after completing the course with the
fifth-grade population.

"SAVE is patterned after the DARE program, but is different because
DARE is a national program and there were things going on in our
community we felt needed to be addressed," Morrow said. "The
information can be delivered by a parent or a counselor, but there is
a big difference when officers in uniform come in to talk to the students."

Morrow said federal funds from a drug-free schools and community
program will pay for much of the cost associated with the services.

Mayor Rick Rodriguez said the decision was important for local children.

"As a commission we felt the city and school district should work
together to educate our children and ensure that they are well
protected," he said.