MOUNTIE TO PATROL SCHOOLS

Students won't be the only ones walking the hallways this fall, as
board members approved a program Monday that will allow police in
district schools.

According to the protocol, one full-time RCMP officer will work
regular school hours to support policing needs within the school
district, with a specific focus on drug enforcement and education.

"Detection and enforcement is only one aspect," said superintendent
Terry Sullivan. "There is a whole range of issues we want them to be
involved in."

The constable will work on a variety of educational issues including
school safety and anti-bullying programs, improving communication
between the district and the RCMP, and support existing policing needs
and services.

Sullivan said it would be an impossible task for the
yet-to-be-determined officer to police every school. Instead, they
will focus on NorKam, Barriere, Logan Lake secondary schools and their
feeder schools -- Bert Edwards, A.E. Perry, John Tod, Arthur Hatton,
Barriere and Logan Lake elementary schools -- and provide enforcement
only in specific situations.

"They will only arrest people we know who are not students but are
selling drugs on school grounds or students who persist in selling
drugs to students during school days on school grounds."

The first year will be a test run, with the University College of the
Fraser Valley providing an assessment of the program's
effectiveness.

The university college will determine the level of drug use in
Kamloops schools and then measure how effective the officer is at
lowering it.

"We wanted to put a program in place and see if it would have an
effect and we wanted to have someone outside of the system look at."

Trustee Kim Van Tine said he was impressed with the protocol's
simplicity.

"It touches on all the issues in a simple and effective way."

He took time out during the summer to talk to students about the
program and was pleased with their response.

"I couldn't find any who didn't think that it was a good idea. I'm
glad they supported it."

Vice-chairman Ken Christian said having the officer work regular
school hours will allow problems to be addressed immediately.

"We won't have a file started and then have to wait until the
following Wednesday for any follow-up," he said.

The protocol will cost $106,000, with money supplied from a cash
surplus in the district's Community Link Funding.

Ninety per cent of the cost is covered by the municipality.

A start date has yet to be determined.