Local law enforcement is playing a greater role in our schools as the increasing trend of school violence enters the minds of many administrators. Schools today still have internal handling mechanisms such as detention and suspension designed to cope with the problems that arise in a school environment. Things such as a school fight or other mild confrontation are handled internally, but at what point is the line drawn between school action and legal action? As policies in schools place more of an emphasis on safety, administrators are redefining those lines constantly.
“These are places of business and learning and some openness is needed. You can’t live in fear all the time,” said Norwich City Police Chief Joseph Angelino.
Schools in the last few years have been revolutionized by rash of shootings that have plagued America. This epidemic has caused security to be bolstered to levels never before seen in schools. Lt. James E. Lloyd of the Chenango County Sheriff’s Department said state mandates require the schools to submit information such as building schematics to local police agencies. “If they ever call, we come,” said Lloyd. Routine drug checks by police dogs, surveillance cameras, one point of entry, sign-in sheets, personnel badges, electronic card access, metal detectors and random bag checks are all growing parts of everyday life in Chenango County’s schools.
A relatively recent development in school safety is the implementation of school resource officers. They have been placed in nearly every school in the county. A resource officer is a New York State Trooper assigned full time to a school as its security advisor and is a vital communication link between police and schools.
“They’re primarily there to interact with the students and the staff. They’re expected to give presentations to students and offer security training to staff,” said Emergency Management NCO Sergeant Michael Lynch. Lynch heads up the program placing resource officers in local schools and since 1992 has been involved in developing the program. The job of a resource officer is to “ be involved in continual communication in order to prevent developing issues from becoming out of control,” said Lynch. The officers tend to allow schools to settle things on their own, but with an officer present the police are well-informed about issues not even involving legal action. When and if such action is needed they will be better equipped with information, said Lynch.
“Schools around here are still very safe places to be. Students in the area are particularly in good hands,” said Lynch.
The Norwich City School District does not have a state resource officer, but falls under the jurisdiction of the Norwich City Police. “There are three main things that are areas of concern – the hospital, schools and the county office building. These places have a number of people, both working and visiting. They are areas that need security, but also need to be accessible to the public,” said Angelino.
“Schools are of great concern obviously. We respond to everything and have frequent communication between us and the schools,” said Angelino. The police chief also said he encourages his officers to stop by local schools just to check in and officers have on occasion ate lunch at the schools. “Calling us is a last resort. You don’t want police disrupting the students, but it’s important to recognize the benefit of having police in schools,” said Angelino.