Council to decide fate of police-in-schools program

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This article was published 29/09/2020 (1892 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg city council will vote Wednesday on whether to extend the police-in-schools program, which has been under fire from several community advocates who want it to end.

While the Winnipeg Police Service says the school resource officer program helps prevent crime and build relationships between law enforcement and the community, others argue the officers’ presence in schools sparks fear in racialized students, and can compromise their educational outcomes.

Coun. Markus Chambers, the chairman of the Winnipeg Police Board, said he hopes council approves the agreement to extend the program, in which 19 officers would visit schools in six divisions, until June 2023.

Chambers said he believes the program helps pupils cope with safety risks and bullying, and raises awareness of drug abuse.

“There’s a lot of great aspects of the program that I think we still need to consider,” he said.

Chambers said he volunteered for a Stay in School program at Gordon Bell High School in the 1990s, an effort that included former Winnipeg Police Service chief Devon Clunis. The councillor said that program provided presentations and activities that he believes are similar to what is offered now.

“It was a very effective way of building relationships and mentorships,” said Chambers.

By contrast, some Winnipeggers believe inviting police into schools causes more harm than good for specific groups of students, such as Indigenous pupils and those of colour.

“Police are a (frightening) presence for a lot of marginalized students and as long as there is a uniformed police officer in the schools, they are pushing people away by association and they’re making schools more exclusive places,” said Cam Scott, an organizer with Police-Free Schools Winnipeg.

Instead of funding the program, Scott said governments should invest in breakfast programs, nurses and/or support workers.

A city report notes the provincial government is expected to provide $1.7 million for the program until 2023, while school divisions will cover $3.4 million of the cost. The Winnipeg Police Service expects to provide nearly $3 million of in-kind support.

If governments and police refuse to end the program, Scott said his organization expects to lobby school boards.

Joe Curnow, a University of Manitoba professor who teaches racial justice courses, said she’s concerned that placing police in schools could make marginalized students less likely to succeed.

“It makes it really hard to create spaces where either reconciliation or anti-racism or culturally relevant and culturally sustaining pedagogies can thrive,” said Curnow.

The professor said she believes racialized students are more likely to be “over-policed” in their communities, so an officer’s presence at school can trigger anxiety.

Chambers said he would support a review of the program to help address the concerns of its opponents but remains convinced the benefits outweigh any flaws.

“There is still a lot of support for the program” (among) school divisions, parents and students, he said.

However, not all councillors are convinced the program should continue as is. Coun. Sherri Rollins said she won’t support the extension.

“I am not going to be supporting the motion because community-based organizations called on us to reallocate resources and to consider some police accountability,” said Rollins.

Joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga