Opinion: What I Think
We represent a grassroots community of Portlanders who want School Resource Officers (SROs) reinstated in Portland Public Schools (PPS) and daily police safety patrols. PPS students, staff, parents, and neighbors have signed our petition to the school board, the superintendent, mayor, and city council urging restoration of this valuable program. Our reason is simple: a trained, daily security presence in and around schools, along with existing supports, will act as a deterrent to criminal activity and keep our students, staff, and neighborhoods safer.
In the past year there have been multiple drug overdoses resulting in student deaths at McDaniel and Franklin high schools and a drug dealer arrested at Cleveland High, and since October there have been five school shootings at three different PPS high schools. PPS is losing students, and we believe school safety retains a diverse student body, staff, and funding.
… since October there have been five school shootings at three different PPS high schools.
Under a formal oversight agreement, SROs work in tandem with educators, counselors, mental health professionals, and Youth Violence Prevention and Response Managers to proactively address school safety issues, divert at-risk students from the juvenile justice system, and deter violence. They also forge positive relationships, whether teaching in class, lunchtime conversations, or attending interscholastic events. SROs are navigators of support when students need to report child abuse, theft, harassment, sex/drug trafficking, or other concerns. They facilitate de-escalations along with resource referrals for families; however, school discipline resides with school administrators, not the SRO.
We are engaging the superintendent, school board, and city leaders to align resources and prioritize safety in and around our school communities. Please join our growing coalition by signing this petition to reinstate specially trained SROs to deter crime and ensure PPS student, staff, and neighborhood safety: chng.it/5887gbFsXv.
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