IndianaLocalNews

Debate over police officers in South Bend Schools continues

(Photo supplied/ABC 57)

Do school resource officers, or police essentially, belong in schools? That’s a question that South Bend schools are pondering, with demands that they be taken out. The demands are coming from the NAACP South Bend chapter. But, some people are fighting to keep them there, saying they are a positive influence for the kids.

What ultimately happens in South Bend, could influence attitudes about resource officers around the state.

“From my perception and from the community members I have spoken with, they are in great support of SRO officers in the schools,” said South Bend School Board member Leslie Wesley, at a panel discussion Tuesday.

But, her viewpoint was refuted by NAACP members Trina Robinson and Drew Duncan, who led a movement in May to have those officers removed, saying their presence is part of a system of racism, and that resource officers disproportionately use force against students of color.

“It doesn’t matter who’s in that system, the system is built to chew up and spit poor Black, brown and white children out of it,” said Duncan.

Robsinson said the fact that there are some schools in the district that are functioning without the officers proves they are not needed.

“Some schools are without. Who’s patrolling those schools? And, those schools are running okay.”

Wesley countered that the officers can be a positive influence.

“This is not about the policeman. This is about building children,” she said. “Whether you’re there with a gun or a book, you should be there to empower those students.”

But, it may go beyond character building. The school resource officers have also proven to be solid defense mechanisms in some schools. In Corydon, in 2018, Officer Mark Bye was credited with possibly saving student lives by discovering a plan for a school shooting. Five students were arrested.

In 202 Officer Greg Ross captured and arrested Michael K. Jones, in Columbus, who had loaded guns on school property.

It was not clear if the panel would have any influence over whether the South Bend School Board ends their agreement with the police department to have officers in the schools.

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3 comments

DAVID ALAN KRIEGEL September 12, 2021 at 7:48 am

It seems to me to do what is best for the majority of the students. Students can not learn if they are not safe and are on guard, scared all day. Face it. Some students are really really mean and violent ( for a number of reasons beyond this discussion) I went through the being threatened and bullying Some students hit, threaten, and attack both students and teachers. Teachers are NOT allowed to physically protect an innocent student from an attacking student. Some students are way over 6 feet of solid muscle. Only the Police stand there to protect the majority of students from those few violent students that can not be removed from the school system.

Reply
Larry September 13, 2021 at 9:18 am

Not everybody is nice like you and me!
SB Schools need the police sadly
People ( NAACP ) who turn everything into a racial issue are people who would be nobody if they weren’t blaming every misdeed on someone else instead of holding the youth responsible for their own actions .
I don’t have kids in the system but if I did
I would want the police there.
Protect the students and teachers instead of tying their hands

Reply
Charles U Farley September 13, 2021 at 12:54 pm

The NAACP nitwits lack critical thinking skills and are just barfing the Democrat party idiocy all over the place, and in the end it’s going to cost the few students in the SBCSC who have a chance to make something of themselves.

But the NAACP doesn’t actually care about CP or anyone else, they only care about power and the narrative that provides it to them.

SBCSC parents, you need to send these NAACP fools packing and protect YOUR children. Make sure they have a chance to succeed by keeping schools safe and secure.

Reply

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