More school resource officers slated for Glendale public schools
Mar 26, 2018, 4:00 AM
(Kathy Cline/KTAR NEWS)
PHOENIX — More school-resource officers are coming to Glendale’s public high schools.
“I am committed…to have an SRO on every high-school campus in the city of Glendale this coming Monday (March 26),” Glendale Police Chief Rick St. John. said at a press conference Friday.
He said the threat of school violence is very real and growing.
“We have nine high-school campuses over four districts within the city of Glendale. We’re seeing an unprecedented number of threats and incidents…they all seem to be linked to what happened in Parkland, Florida.
“This is having a very real impact on all of us – in our nation, in the state of Arizona and, of course, in the city of Glendale.”
The plan will place a full-time Glendale police officer on every high school campus in the city.
The schools getting a new officer are Deer Valley High School, Mountain Ridge High School, Apollo High School, Glendale High School and Independence High School.
The SRO program was already in place at Raymond S. Kellis High School, Copper Canyon High School, Cactus High School and Ironwood High School and will continue.
City manager Kevin Phelps said he agreed with the plan.
“The responsibility (of school safety) should not and cannot fall on the shoulders of our students and teachers. What they are asking us is really pretty basic: Let us be kids again, and let us learn in a safe environment.”
When the Parkland shooting happened, Mayor Jerry Weiers said he was stunned into action. He went to the city council and police departments to determine what should be done.
He said he agrees with the idea of SROs in every public high school, even though it will cost more money.
“We financially really couldn’t afford to do this,” Weiers said, “but we can’t afford NOT to do this. Highly trained police officers are exactly what we need in our schools, protecting and serving students and staff. And that is why we have made the decision to take the lead by taking this action.”