Anne Arundel police want to post school resource officers at three middle schools to curb crime and provide extra security in at-risk neighborhoods.
“Schools are really the hub of the community. We learn what?s going on in the neighborhoods, andthose officers help reduce the number of calls to that school,” said Police Chief James Teare.
Three of seven middle schools, which Teare would not name, are being considered based on the number of incidents and calls for service as well as the schools? population. It is part of the Police Department?s $102 million request for fiscal 2009.
However, a good indicator where the officers might go could be the schools with neighborhoods that have transient populations and higher crime rates, Teare said.
According to data compiled by The Examiner, Anne Arundel has the second-highest number of students ? 209 ? suspended for assaulting teachers in the Baltimore region.
“In no way should it be viewed that because we place an officer at a school that it is a bad one,” said Lt. J.D. Batten, commander of the school resource unit.
The officers also help keep sexual predators away from school campuses and deter incidents similar to one that ravaged Columbine High School in Colorado.
Teare said a resource officer is posted in every high school and six middle schools.
“It?s one program that we do that doesn?t get complaints,” Teare said.
The County Council reviewed the police?s $102 million budget and said little about the expenditure ? save one councilmen.
“It?s a sad commentary when I?ve got to have police in a school,” said Councilman Ed Middlebrooks, R-District 5. “It?s just out of control. … It boggles my mind.”
