Edmonton Public Schools opens the door to return police officers to schools

Edmonton public school trustees have re-opened the door to stationing police officers in schools, more than three years after suspending the long-standing program.

Trustee Marsha Nelson, who put forward the motion, said the results of an academic study, consultations with principals and students and a spring survey made it clear people valued the officers in schools.

"For those who have doubts about having police play a role in our schools, I hear your concerns, too," Nelson said. "But I'm confident that our staff will work with all of our students, and help them, and all of our students, feel safe."

The decision deeply divided the eight board trustees, who voted 5-3 in favour of bringing back police.

After each trustee made their stance clear, several observers walked out of the crowded meeting chambers Tuesday.

The board did not decide whether the program would look like the school resource officer (SRO) model that was put in place in 1979, or when police would return to schools. Superintendent Darrel Robertson said it is each principal's choice whether they want an officer.

At a special meeting of the board Tuesday, 32 members of the public spoke, including 26 people who opposed the police's return.

Edmonton parent Robin Kyler said the board failed to try other approaches to improve school safety after the superintendent paused the SRO program in September 2020.

Many speakers wanted the board to invest more in teachers, smaller class sizes, educational assistants, social workers, mental health therapists, meal programs and other proactive measures to keep children from running afoul of the law.

"Bringing back this program sounds like giving up to me," Tyler said.

Dilraj Grewal, a master of education student, said he spent his school years cowering in school hallways, feeling like a "dangerous brown kid" who was trying to avoid the police.

Officers searched lockers and demanded to see identification seemingly at random, he said, which was "embarrassing and violating."

Other speakers opposed to the program cited research about police in schools leading to the criminalization of children, and lack of evidence that school-based police prevent crime.

The school division previously covered half the cost of the SRO program, for about $1.2 million per year. It's unclear how much a new program would cost or who would pay.