Removing Police from Schools – Campus Safety Alliance. In the wake of the killing of George Floyd by police officers in Minneapolis, there have been calls to defund law enforcement agencies across the United States. As a result, some voices are calling for the removal of School Resource Officers (SROs) and other law enforcement officers from schools across the country. Proponents of the change argue police officers in school increase fear and anxiety among students of color. They further claim these officers pose a greater risk to the safety of students, specifically students of color, than the risk of a school shooting. Is there data that supports these claims? One study being touted as evidence of the impact police presence has on the attitudes of black students examined the effects of Operation Impact in New York. Oddly enough, the researchers found, “The findings for school-related attitudes show no evidence that Operation Impact influenced school-related attitudes”. Another study explored the disciplinary actions and attendance in schools that received grant funding to hire SROs. The study found an increase in suspension rates and a decrease in student attendance rates at these sites, however, the research suggests the possibility of a correlation between these variables, not causation. Morgan Ballis, M.S. EM, Director of Strategic Planning & Training, Campus Safety Alliance. Contact: Morgan@Campus-Safety.us or 833-722-6787. www.expertclick.com/NewsRelease/2020232134.

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