STUDENT SECURITY

Officers At Schools May Be Reassigned, But Teen Safety Remains A Priority

The greatest part of having police officers in area high schools is the
relationship that builds between cop and teen.

It is far better to give kids exposure to the law and those who guard it
when they are on the right side of the law (which, of course, is most often
the case). The DARE program, debated from its inception to its demise, was
loved for that very aspect, despite what people felt about drug education.

Columbian reporter Mhari Doyle wrote in Friday's paper that two Vancouver
School District high schools, and possibly two high schools in the
Evergreen School District, might be losing high-school-assigned Vancouver
Police Department officers, commonly called school resource officers.

The issue is money. The Vancouver Police Department needs more of it to
fulfill the public mandate to protect residents and their property. The
Vancouver School District is hard-pressed to come up with the additional
$80,000 it would take to keep the officers at Hudson's Bay and Fort
Vancouver high schools.

The cost went up because in better city financial times, VPD was able to
offer the service at little cost to the school districts -- just about 10
percent of what school resource officers cost the city. Times are leaner,
and the school districts' service contracts with VPD are due for renegotiation.

With a tight budget, VPD is asking the school districts' to pay about 50
percent in future dealings. Vancouver School District had to say "no" to
the deal, remarking that in no way was that decision a reflection on the
quality work performed by the officers. The decision was about thousands,
not satisfaction levels.

Resource officers at Skyview and Columbia River will remain. They are
provided through the Clark County Sheriff's Office.

At least one parent has publicly complained about the likely loss, unhappy
that resource officers will not be on hand to assist students,
administrators and school district security guards.

It is unfortunate that community priorities demand that some school
resource officers be reassigned. But parents should not buy into worries
that the absence of an on-site police officer means mass hysteria and
danger. Resource officers are an asset, but schools are the safest places
for kids with or without them. Far more dangerous than schools are
highways, parks and even homes.

Administrators and teachers will remain present. Police will be nearby and
ready to respond. District-employed security guards at schools without
resource officers may have their hours increased.

Schools deserve continued confidence from the community in regard to
safety. And the police department and school districts should try their
best to come up with a way to see that some of the relationship building
that makes the resource officer concept so attractive can continue.