No armed officers in schools, trustees say
September 5, 2008
Comments on this story
(56)
Kristin Rushowy
EDUCATION REPORTER
While Toronto's two school boards have yet to name the schools where armed officers will be assigned, two public trustees can already tell you where they won't be – in their wards.
Trustees Chris Bolton (Trinity-Spadina) and Sheila Cary-Meagher (Beaches-East York) have already nixed the idea.
"I can't imagine in this day and age, the school boards and the cops getting together and putting guys with guns in secondary schools," said Cary-Meagher.
"I don't mind them coming in to talk to children in Grades 1, 2 and 3 about safety, but to have them walking the halls and wearing guns in high schools, where guns are a problem, is mind-blowing to me."
Bolton said he would be "delighted" to have police in his schools – but unarmed, and assigned to each of his four main high schools. Neither condition could be met.
"Instead they were going to be in Central Tech and Central Commerce, and I couldn't understand how they'd (board staff and police) picked those two," he said. "Unless they had some sort of explanation, I couldn't see how we could do that."
Their high schools include Central Technical School, Central Commerce Collegiate, Harbord Collegiate, Heydon Park Secondary, Malvern Collegiate and East York Collegiate.
Last May, Toronto's public board approved a plan after a scathing report from a safety panel examining conditions in its schools; that panel was created following the shooting death of Jordan Manners at C.W. Jefferys high school. Part of the plan calls for "positive police interactions with students in school buildings."
Police already visit and take part in activities in schools, in uniform. This new initiative, however, would station an officer in roughly 30 high schools, both public and Catholic, as a way to forge better ties – and understanding – among officers and local youth.
Those officers would have an office in each school, but also reach out to other schools in the area.
Trustee Josh Matlow says he and his colleagues are still waiting for more information on how the program will work, but he "enthusiastically" supports it. One school in his ward will likely take part, but he plans to meet with the parent council to make sure everyone is on board.
Police Chief Bill Blair has been firm that officers will be uniformed, and carrying weapons, although there is some suggestion that officers might be more casually dressed if, for example, they take part in sports activities with teens.
Public board trustee Cathy Dandy said it is too early for anyone to accept or reject the plan, given there is no clear indication of what officers will be doing in schools and what their role will be.
While she is not comfortable with the thought of armed officers, she has heard from some principals that similar programs have worked well.
Trustee Stephnie Payne, who represents the northwest end of the city – including C.W. Jefferys – says she won't make a decision before holding community consultations.
Trustee Howard Goodman believes "the benefits (of this plan) substantially outweigh whatever discomfort comes from the intrusion of guns in schools."
He says it is a valuable opportunity for both police and teens to "get a deeper understanding of who they are, instead of the stereotypes."
Goodman said officers should be stationed in schools where the trustee, superintendent, principal and parent council all think it is a good idea.
Both boards are still finalizing their list of schools taking part.
Toronto Star