History of History of School-Based Law EnforcementSchool-Based Law Enforcement

School-based Law EnforcementSchool-based Law EnforcementHistoryHistory

TeachersTeachers

PrincipalsPrincipals

SuperintendentsSuperintendents

School BoardsSchool Boards

Local Law EnforcementLocal Law Enforcement

ISD Police DepartmentsISD Police Departments

School-Based Law EnforcementSchool-Based Law Enforcement

Over 200-years there wereNo Law enforcement officersin schools. It was teachers and later principals that weretotally responsible forstudent safety!

School-based Law EnforcementSchool-based Law EnforcementHistoryHistory

1950’s Officer Friendly1950’s Officer Friendly

Flint, Michigan, 1958 first time police assigned– Flint, Michigan, 1958 first time police assigned– positive attitudepositive attitude

1960’s undercover officers & beginning of School Police 1960’s undercover officers & beginning of School Police (MOD Squad Pete, Link & Julie)(MOD Squad Pete, Link & Julie) Tucson, Arizona, 1963 – goal improve relationsTucson, Arizona, 1963 – goal improve relations Saginaw, Michigan, 1966 – more than one schoolSaginaw, Michigan, 1966 – more than one school Cincinnati, Ohio, 1969 – minimal LE activity, education Cincinnati, Ohio, 1969 – minimal LE activity, education

focusfocus

1970’s & 1980’s Expansion1970’s & 1980’s Expansion

School Liaison Officers & Law-School Liaison Officers & Law-related educationrelated education

1990’s 1990’s D.A.R.E.D.A.R.E. & & G.R.E.A.T.G.R.E.A.T. other other prevention education programsprevention education programs

2000’s ISD Police & SRO’s2000’s ISD Police & SRO’s

The Future – SBLE officersThe Future – SBLE officers

School-based Law EnforcementSchool-based Law EnforcementHistory - History - ContinuedContinued

Schools TodaySchools Today

Rage/violence incidentsRage/violence incidents

Columbine to NIUColumbine to NIU

SLO’s to SRO’s to SBLE’sSLO’s to SRO’s to SBLE’s

Community policingCommunity policing

Schools mirror society Schools mirror society

Schools are safer Schools are safer with the presence of with the presence of law enforcement. law enforcement.

What’s the best What’s the best school-based school-based policing philosophy?policing philosophy?

Schools TodaySchools TodayContinued Continued

Officers in SchoolsOfficers in Schools

Build healthy relationshipsBuild healthy relationships

Provide useful prevention strategies Provide useful prevention strategies for students, parents and educatorsfor students, parents and educators

Teach positive decision-making Teach positive decision-making skillsskills

Provide a safer school and Provide a safer school and communitycommunity

Old School vs SBLEOld School vs SBLE

LE comes when calledLE comes when called

School decides when to School decides when to callcall

Emergency Planning Emergency Planning w/o LE involvementw/o LE involvement

LE role limited to LE role limited to enforcementenforcement

School see LE School see LE involvement as failureinvolvement as failure

SBLE officers assigned SBLE officers assigned to campusto campus

SBLE officer helps SBLE officer helps decide prioritiesdecide priorities

SBLE Officers involved SBLE Officers involved in Assessments & EOP’sin Assessments & EOP’s

SBLE’s do PIESBLE’s do PIE

School officials School officials welcome SBLE officers welcome SBLE officers as part of solutionas part of solution

IACP PhilosophyIACP Philosophy Law enforcement presence Law enforcement presence

PreventionPrevention

Problem-solving strategies Problem-solving strategies InterventionIntervention

Problem-oriented policingProblem-oriented policing EnforcementEnforcement

SBLE Officers: SBLE Officers:

PreventionPrevention

InterventionIntervention

EnforcementEnforcement

PreventionPrevention Maintain a visible presence on campusMaintain a visible presence on campus Model professional law enforcement standardsModel professional law enforcement standards Provide education programs including Conflict Provide education programs including Conflict

ResolutionResolution Provide staff in-service on public safety issuesProvide staff in-service on public safety issues Provide parent programs Provide parent programs Provide civic and community programsProvide civic and community programs Provide crime prevention assistanceProvide crime prevention assistance CPTEDCPTED Assist with safety exercises and drillsAssist with safety exercises and drills

InterventionIntervention

Build positive relationships with students Build positive relationships with students & parents& parents

Be responsive to student needsBe responsive to student needs Bridge school and community servicesBridge school and community services Work closely with school-based Work closely with school-based

counselorscounselors Refer students and parents to counselorsRefer students and parents to counselors Participate in School Safety Assessment Participate in School Safety Assessment Member of Emergency Operations TeamMember of Emergency Operations Team

EnforcementEnforcement

NecessityNecessity

Problem-solving toolProblem-solving tool

Notify school officials of all enforcement activityNotify school officials of all enforcement activity

Provide due process for victims and suspectsProvide due process for victims and suspects

Document and address all criminal violations Document and address all criminal violations

Provide emergency law enforcement services to Provide emergency law enforcement services to

imminent threatening and dangerous situationsimminent threatening and dangerous situations

Participate in Active Shooter TeamParticipate in Active Shooter Team

TrendsTrends

School & Community are ONESchool & Community are ONE SBLE opportunity for good PR with SBLE opportunity for good PR with

youthyouth Proactive vs. ReactiveProactive vs. Reactive

School Officials need SBLE officersSchool Officials need SBLE officers Community Policing is the futureCommunity Policing is the future Safe Schools are Learning SchoolsSafe Schools are Learning Schools

New New ROLEROLE for SBLE Officer for SBLE Officer

EducatorEducator

Problem SolverProblem Solver Prevention SpecialistPrevention Specialist Intervention SpecialistIntervention Specialist Enforcement SpecialistEnforcement Specialist

Law Enforcement in SchoolsLaw Enforcement in Schools

George D. LittleGeorge D. Little Former Director, ICJSFormer Director, ICJS glittle1@satx.rr.comglittle1@satx.rr.com 210.379.4919210.379.4919