In the wake of widespread protests against police brutality following George Floyd’s tragic death, cities across the United States have begun to reevaluate the role of law enforcement within their communities. Among the significant changes being made is the removal of school resource officers (SROs) from educational institutions—a decision that has sparked both support and opposition.
Recently, the Minneapolis School Board made headlines by unanimously cutting ties with the Minneapolis Police Department, a move quickly echoed by Portland Public Schools, which voted to eliminate police presence in its district. While activists applauded these decisions as a step toward safer schools, detractors argued that police presence equates to safety — a claim that does not hold up under scrutiny.
Marc Larson, director of the Justice Policy Institute, pointed out in a 2018 NPR interview that expanding law enforcement in schools does not yield the expected outcomes in terms of safety. In fact, the data suggests this approach has been largely ineffective. The presence of SROs surged in the 1990s, particularly following the Columbine tragedy in 1999. Today, approximately 20,000 SROs are stationed in schools, ostensibly to prevent violence. However, a 2013 report from the Congressional Research Service concluded that research has not definitively shown that their presence deters mass shootings. Notably, an SRO was present during the 2018 Parkland shooting, underscoring the limitations of this strategy.
The dire reality is that societal factors have proven more effective in preventing school shootings than the presence of SROs. Moreover, many accounts reveal that the presence of law enforcement in schools can lead to adverse consequences for students. In one disturbing case, a six-year-old girl in Florida was arrested for having a meltdown. At such a young age, she likely needed support rather than a criminal record.
Larson noted that schools with police presence often see increased rates of suspensions, expulsions, and arrests, particularly impacting students of color. Statistics from the Education Department reveal that Black students are 2.2 times more likely than their white peers to be referred to law enforcement during school hours. Furthermore, suspensions can have detrimental effects on a child’s academic performance, with each suspension potentially reducing a student’s achievement growth by nine points, making recovery extremely challenging.
Conversely, schools that prioritize mental health resources witness improvements in attendance, academic achievement, and graduation rates, according to the American Council of Education. These services can proactively identify and address students’ needs, a task for which police training is inadequate. Alarmingly, the ACLU found that 1.7 million students attend schools with police but no counselors, while 3 million are in schools lacking nurses, and 14 million have no access to counselors, nurses, psychologists, or social workers.
By removing SROs, the Minneapolis school board freed up $1 million to invest in essential mental health services, which have been proven to enhance safety and wellbeing in schools. Similarly, Portland’s decision to eliminate armed police officers will allow for the reallocation of $1 million toward community-driven programs.
In summary, evidence indicates that school resource officers do not effectively deter school shootings and often have negative repercussions for students, particularly those from marginalized communities. The choice made by Minneapolis and Portland is not a reaction to anti-police sentiment but rather a conscious decision to invest in student wellbeing based on empirical evidence. As a parent, I want genuine safety for my children—this means prioritizing funding for social workers and mental health resources over the mere presence of law enforcement.
It’s time for more schools to take a cue from Minneapolis and Portland; we need to shift from reactive policing to proactive support systems.
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