SROs/SSOs/Student Wellness Recommendations for the Richmond City School Board
Presented by: Jason Kamras, Superintendent Venue: Richmond City School Board Meeting Date: August 16, 2021
Richmond Public Schools | 301 North 9th Street | Richmond, VA | www.rvaschools.net SROs/SSOs/Student Wellness: Recommendation for the Richmond City School Board
Overview
Though the Administration initially set out to provide recommendations only about the School Resource Officer (SRO) partnership with the Richmond Police Department (RPD), discussions with students, families, and staff – as well as the toll of COVID – suggested a need for broader reform.
Towards that end, this proposal covers three topics: Student Resource Officers (SROs); School Security Officers (SSOs) who are NOT affiliated with RPD; and the need for an even greater focus on our students’ overall mental, emotional, and physical health.
Richmond Public Schools | August 16, 2021 2 SROs/SSOs/Student Wellness: Recommendation for the Richmond City School Board
Changes to the RPD School Resource Officer (SRO) Program
The Administration believes that the institution of policing does not belong in schools. To be clear, this is no way a criticism of the individual RPD School Resource Officers who serve admirably in RPS. Rather, it reflects the Administration’s conviction that schools ought not serve as an entry point to the criminal justice system.
That said, the Administration recognizes and respects that many students, families, and staff – as well as a majority of the School Board – do not support removing SROs from our schools. Given this, the Administration recommends the following: 1) implement several modifications to the current SRO program to further enhance its focus on de-escalation and relationship-building; and 2) revisit the future of the program when the current MOU with RPD expires in 2023.
Recommended modifications for discussion with RPD: ● SROs would wear their “soft” uniform while at school. ● With the guidance of school counselors and social workers, SROs would formally mentor a caseload of students each year, with weekly one-on-one and group sessions. ● RPD and RPS would develop a diversion program to end arrests on school grounds for any non-violent offenses. ● SRO arrest data would be tracked by the location of the offense (in-school vs. out-of-school) and reported quarterly to the School Board.
If these modifications are adopted by the Board, the Administration recommends immediately establishing a 10-person SRO Committee composed of 2 representatives from the Board, 2 representatives from the Administration, 2 students, 2 teachers, and 2 parents/caregivers to collaborate with RPD representatives on negotiating these updates to the MOU for implementation during the 2021-22 school year.
Richmond Public Schools | August 16, 2021 3 SROs/SSOs/Student Wellness: Recommendation for the Richmond City School Board
Changes to the RPS School Security Officer (SSO) Role
As a reminder, the School Security Officer (SSO) role is completely unaffiliated with the Richmond Police Department. Based on extensive feedback from students, the Administration has determined that this role must evolve significantly to become more focused on the third priority of Dreams4RPS – Safe and Loving School Cultures. Given this, the Administration has taken the following actions in preparation for the 2021-22 school year.
● The School Security Officer (SSO) role has been renamed as “Care and Safety Associate” (CSA). ● A new job description has been created and shared with the current staff. Among the new job responsibilities: ○ Working proactively to build authentic relationships with students, families, school based staff and other stakeholders that is centered around safety and support ○ Supporting the implementation of tiered supports for students struggling to meet behavioral expectations, including participation in alternatives to out-of-school suspensions ○ Modeling and implementing trauma informed and restorative strategies such as conflict resolution, mediation, de-escalation, and the use of social-emotional skills to resolve conflict ○ Leading community and healing circles with students to support their social and emotional development ○ Conducting home visits with school staff to support student attendance efforts ● The team responsible for trauma informed and restorative practices has launched a series of trainings for the CSAs to help them meet the new job expectations. These trainings will continue throughout the school year. ● To further signal a change in job expectations, the blue security uniform has been replaced with a gray RPS polo shirt and khaki pants.
Richmond Public Schools | August 16, 2021 4 SROs/SSOs/Student Wellness: Recommendation for the Richmond City School Board
Launching a New Student Wellness Office
To further support the third priority of Dreams4RPS – Safe and Loving School Cultures – and respond to the impact that COVID has had on our students, we are launching a new office called the Student Wellness Office. It will focus on ensuring the emotional, mental, and physical health of our students so they feel safe, loved, and well at all times in RPS. Among other things, the Wellness Office will include: ● Social and Emotional Learning ● Mental Health Supports ● Trauma Informed Practices ● Restorative Practices ● Anti-Racism Training and Policy ● LGBTQ+ Training and Policy ● Student Code of Responsible Ethics (SCORE) ● Suspension Reduction ● SROs ● Care & Safety Associates ● Food and Nutrition ● School Nurses ● Athletics
The Chief Student Wellness Officer will report directly to the superintendent and will serve as a member of the RPS Leadership Team. Please note that this role and the entire office will be revenue neutral.
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Appendix: Feedback and Data Regarding SRO Program
Richmond Public Schools | August 16, 2021 6
Comments – Community Meeting on Police in Schools – August 10, 2020 at 6pm
Frank Threatts III Armstrong High School
As a teacher at Armstrong High School and have witnessed how well our SROs work with our kids and help our Students and Staff feel safe, I believe we need to make this decision on a school by school basis. If you make the decision to remove them, what decision will be made to fix the stigma that OUR kids feel about the police. Are we going to put resources in place so OUR students can see a future that doesn't involve cinder block walls or will we wait and see, and wait and see and wait and see.
Shiela Dudley RPS Schoolboard Members,
I am a parent of a10th grade student who attends Huguenot High School. I support School Resource Officers in the schools 100 percent. I am at peace while my daughter is in school knowing the SRO's are there to keep her safe. The violence at Huguenot is outrageous. The teachers are already underpaid, if the SRO's are removed that's an additional role the teacher's have to play. My daughter stayed, "who will break up the fights, who will monitor the halls, who will prevent Bullying, the SRO's are there to protect us." There are students that want to learn and some that dont want to learn. There have been so many mass school shootings; how will this be prevented, who will search the students to ensure a student does not have a weapon. SRO's are needed in the schools. Please think about the safety of our children and those that want to learn also the added responsibility that will be placed on the teachers if the SROs are removed. Please keep our children and teacher's safe. Huguenot High School needs SRO's. Tarnee Hudson Greetings, I hope all are safe and healthy.
As we look to what our students need to feel safe while working in an environment free from fear, our SRO program is under review.
Knowing that there are students who have made connections with our SROs that are impactful in a positive way, taking them completely out of the schools may result in a negative impact.
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We could create an educational model to help connect law enforcement and the community, that allows a safe space for students to learn while having SROs help in the educational process.
DARE was one of the most memorable programs we had in school conducted by SROs and bringing a program that is structured back to school or even the approach, would help bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community.
Also with the lack of exposure of SROs on the elementary level, there is a need to start the "learning free from fear and criminalization" early so conversations can continue through adulthood.
Thank you
Inett Dabney
Hello,
My name is Mrs. Dabney, I am the principal of Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School. I am writing this email in support of Officer May, the SRO in our school.
Officer May is more than a SRO, he is a member of our school family. Officer May is not at the school to arrest students, but to build positive relationships and a sense of community. He does this day in and day out, from being a coach on his PAL's football team, to his annual Christmas Concert that is a showcase for talented RPS students, staff, and community members.
Officer May takes the time to talk to students and parents, when students misbehave, because he knows that the misbehavior is a cry for help. Our students face many challenges everyday in their lives, that weigh on their physical and mental health.
MLK is a safer and more compassionate school, because of Officer May. Kevin Hart In my 30 years of teaching, I believe that the thought of removing SRO's from RPS is the worst ever. The removal of RPS from RPS will create a critically dangerous systemwide situation for staff and students. Having police officers present or readily available serve as serious deterrent from dangerous behaviors on the part of students and unruly parents. The RPS security staff are
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limited in their means/methods of dealing with both parents and students, the presence of the SRO's often serve to de-escalate tense situations. The removal of the SRO's will only make a difficult job even more difficult for all parties involved. McDaniel Anderson My three years @ Elkhardt-Thompson, I think the SRO has made a BIG difference in the school environment. The school feels safe in my opinion. The SRO has built lasting relationships with our students and helps our students realize that the SRO in our school PROTECT and SERVE the students.. Aaron Harris
I am a middle school administrator have worked with SRO Norwood for four years. In that time she has shown an unwavering commitment to building positive relationships with all of our students. She has volunteered outside of work to sponsor/coach several of our students through the Police Athletic League. She has always made herself available to listen to counsel and students in need. Norwood works collaboratively with students, parents, staff and other stakeholders. I am confident in speaking on behalf of the staff at ETMS - Norwood has been a huge part of the transformation of school climate over the past several years. She is considered a part of the ETMS (soon to be River City Middle School) family! Being bereft of her presence in the school creates a concern for me when I think of the overall safety and wellbeing of students and staff. Please consider keeping RPD school resource officers in the building when students return.
Michael Jones, AP at Henderson As a 24 year employee with RPS, I have worked with a few amazing SRO's. The first was Ofc. Brown at Armstrong in the late 90's . He was always visible and interacting positively with our students. He greeted them daily and was visible to assist in many areas of the school environment. He was also active in apprehending the school shooter in 98. Afterwards, we had Ofc Brown, who also was great with the kids during and after school as he transported students from Franklin Military to Armstrong High School to coach Tennis. He monitored the students and made sure that their behavior and grades were always acceptable. That goes for the same with SRO Norwood at Elkhardt-Thompson. She is amazing as she has always been supportive and encouraging to students as she mentored and guided them to greatness as the girls basketball team and also as the PALS flag football team made up of ETMS students. She monitored the academic progress and behavior progress of those students /athletes and many others. She was an integral part of the culture and climate of the school as she established positive relationships with students, parents, teachers, and staff.
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All of these SRO's were a part of the school families. They all knew the students and some of their family members as the SRO's were active in the communities. They are truly needed in schools as we continue to mend the relationships that are being more damaged today with the recent incidents of injustice and police misconduct.
Rashad Jones SRO Harris is a standup pillar in our school (Armstrong High School). With all of the confusion going on in the world, I feel as if SRO’s are needed in the school. I can only speak for Officer Harris character and that is of a helpful soul who genuinely cares for the students. He isnt a “bad cop”, and I mean instead of simply punishing students he guides them along the way. He can also be seen in the hallway laughing, relating and also connecting with the students by talking about things normal humans do. Thats because we are all HUMAN! Students need to see positive police role models now more than anything because of the current climate of the world. Most of the so called “troubled youth” speak to us (strong black males) and confide is us so we can guide them. WE NEED SRO HARRIS AND OTHER SROS IN OUR SCHOOL! BLACK POLICE MATTER - EVERYBODY MATTERS- BLACK TEACHERS MATTER TO BLACK YOUTH- and not to be so racist lol BUT COOL PEOPLE ARE NEEDED DURING THIS TIME AND HARRIS
IS COOL - #COOLLIVESMATTER Peace!
Marchell Pleasant One of my greatest comforts at Armstrong is knowing that the SRO’s are around. I enjoy watching many of our students bonding with them and not fearing their presence. So many of our students will see these same officers in their neighborhood and it’s all good. Talking about building better relationships with community and police...we as educators appreciate the comfort they bring and the bonding we all have with them. They are a part of our family. Please reconsider removing them.
Virgil Hockaday Greeting,
I am not going to write an essay, but it a big mistake to leave the school to school security and teacher. It's hard enough to teach without dealing with community / section disagreements. You have to understand the demographic of our city schools. Please don't make that big mistake. P.S. I know these students better than my own children, and I know what they are capable of good and bad.
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Dianne Lee It has been my experience in RPS that our SRO was amazing, calm with parents and students, yet firm when needed. She was very helpful to staff and she intervened in crisis situations. It was comforting to know she was in the building.
Michael Szeles
If School Resource Officers are not present, then how shall RPS control violence, active shooters, riots, fights, destruction, etc. We have already seen in Seattle what happens when Police are banned. As the saying goes "Police are only minutes away, when seconds count". Who would send their children to a school with no Officer? RPS voted for "virtual-learning" to protect children. Is RPS against officers because of questionable decisions by a few officers in other states?
Thank you for your time.
Pamela Jones As an employee and a parent, I feel that their presence is very necessary. I would like to see more on the Elementary level, not just during a crisis or special event. I feel it gives the children and parents an opportunity to interact with officers during routine day to day business. They were placed their for a reason and could take a bigger role in deescalating students behavior by first getting to know them and their histories before an event occurs. Police in the schools can be a positive just as Phycologists, Communities in schools , behavior counselors and health, vision and dental clinic a in schools have been. We have to keep in mind that de-escalation is the goal for avoiding trauma for our students and it takes a village to know our students and help them thrive not just survive. Police officers are part of that village
Dr. Gwendolyn Pendegrass As a former officer and veteran of the United States Army, I understand the importance of safety, security and selfless service. I can speak strongly of former soldiers who have served and are currently serving in the armed forces, of their commitment to defend and uphold the country on foreign and domestic shores. The responsibility of taking on the various duties of serving your country with loyalty and without recognition of personal gain are qualities that are disparate of many. SRO Harris, a leader and a public service professional, has ALWAYS conducted himself as a leader of sound mind, positive role model, technical and tactically
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proficient, a leader of integrity and seeks the well-being and concern of others. SRO Harris has been a vital and strong leader in the Armstrong High School Family. SRO Harris presence, support, communication with staff and students, his agility, compassion and resilience are the qualities I have observed throughout the years as a current educator of Armstrong High School family. I have observed Officer Harris professional skills in teaching my students as well as engaging in positive dialogue. In addition, I have also witness Officer Harris dealing with a lawful situation that also involved one of my beloved students(smile). Officer Harris presence and attention to detail throughout the school day as been beneficial to teachers as well as students. In my opinion SRO Harris has committed his time and service to protect and support the Armstrong Family. I am very thankful for the leadership and governing support of staff, students and most important SRO Harris. SRO Harris presence and attention to detail has changed the negative actions of the students and staff. I look forward to the transition and returning back to Armstrong High School in upcoming 2021 school year as well having the support and foresight of SRO Harris, administrative leaders, educators and most important our students. Nichele Ford Greetings RPS FAMILY,
As an educator/administrator that has served at the secondary level, It is my firm belief that SRO’s should absolutely remain in our schools. SRO’s are not for the sole purpose of student discipline. It is my belief,that they are there to protect and serve all stakeholders. Unfortunately, there have been instances, where I have been in need of their support as an employee and having them on site proved to be very beneficial. A reform may be necessary, however I firmly believe that having them on site will improve the relationships and perceptions of Law enforcement in light of the recent civil unrest. It is better to have and not need than to need and not have. My name is Tracey Williams and I am a current George Wythe graduate. My SRO’s were an amazing addition to the my 4 years there. They made me feel safe, and cared for and they I knew that our school was always protected when they were there. They always do small things like keep snacks in their office in case a kid was hungry and i think that’s kind of a big deal considering a lot of kids don’t come from a well fed home. They also are great motivators and push you to be better not only in school but in life too. Long story short, I don’t see the need to take our officers out of schools because they keep our schools because they’re the reason I could go to school everyday without a worry of what’s going to happen. Sandra C. Armstead As a teacher, I know first hand that Officer Harris is needed at Armstrong High School. Not only does he assist us with problematic students, he also helps the students who come to learn and grow feel safe. He’s always been available for advice and assistance to students many of whom request him by name when they have been intimidated by other students. He is a member of our
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Armstrong family and as such is highly valued by teachers as well as students. I must believe that parents, students and teachers would have one more thing to worry about if he’s not with us when we return to our school. We need him.
My name is William Scott and I would like to offer a response to the proposed removal of SROs from RPS. Armstrong High is "my home" and I strive everyday to provide a safe educational environment for teaching and learning. The various SROs that I have had the opportunity to work in harmony with has only enhanced and enriched the students' lives at Armstrong.
There are so many different aspects of educational experience that I have learned from over my 21 years in this field. Education is a family business as my parents have 78 years of service as educators and administration in both Virginia and North Carolina, both sets of my godparents are all retired educators, with one of them teaching at the famous Eastside High School in Patterson, NJ for 40 years. My point is I have some excellent resources and historical viewpoints extended to me since I decided to become an educator.
In understanding the social climate that we are experiencing, it is important to remember why SROs were placed in schools in the first place. It is important to remember all the violence that has taken place in different schools across the nation and the lives that have been lost, both teacher and student. It is even more important that we as RPS don't react and over-correct during this moment in time.
I have the opportunity work at MLK, George Wythe, and John Marshall in addition to Armstrong and I have never witnessed any SRO abuse or seek to intimidate any student or staff. I have witnessed our SROs engage in positive dialog, act unselfishly with their personal time to support our students in various ways, and not to understate this... actually save student's lives.
I believe in restorative justice and now more than ever it is important that our students and our police officers continue to share positive experiences that should promote the growth of community and citizenship.
Leslie Hayes
Hello, I teach at Elkhardt Thompson (now River City) Middle School and I support SROs in schools. First, it gave students an opportunity to see and meet police officers in a positive and nonthreatening environment. Secondly, it gave the school a police official with more policing authority than our security staff have, just in case we need it. This includes dealing with student
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infractions, but more importantly, dealing with those from outside of our school community who would come inside and cause harm.
Thank you for this opportunity to be heard. Amy Williford an RPS Parent Why should SRO's be in schools? Listen , why not? Why is a SRO, or a gun intimidating instead of a sign that you are protected. What better people to have in schools to improve relationships with the police department especially with our current state of events. Removing the police decreases the bridging of the gap and defeats the purpose of encouraging our youth to have respect for authority figures. The only kids who would have a problem with them is those who are in school for the wrong reason!!! They are there for order, to protect students and to protect the school. If a problem arises and they aren't in school, someone from school is going to call 911. Whats the point when 911 was in your school? Admin, teachers, counselors even social workers cannot " de-escalate" certain situations. Trust me as a former Therapeutic Day Treatment Supervisor, some of these kids need more restrictive measures for their safety and everyone eles. How do we strengthen the relationship between Police and our youth if they arent with our youth. How do we create the community bonds? Gut the schools, find the Police who want and desire to work with kids, train them and put them with our kids. If it wasn't for this one in particular, Officer Virgil Burton, many kids would be in jail....now listen to that, complete opposite of what one would think. They come to him before altercations, he knows gang members, kids don't fight out of respect for him and he is many of their confidantes. More of him are needed. And this is a FREE service to RPS please, no Brainer. More adults in a school, the better!!!! I do think many of the current SROs either need to be replaced or retrained in a way that they understand their purpose in the schools. It is unfair and huge expectation for teachers, school personnel and Admin to handle situations that cannot be verbally de-escalated. It is in the students best interests for their own safety to be restrained or detained only when necessary by someone who is trained to do it properly. I urge you to consider all the negative implications that may result if they are not in schools. Remember, the safety of our students should be 1st and foremost and we cannot turn a blind eye that some of our kids unfortunately will need this intervention and others could simply have a sense of safety knowing someone in the school is their for their protection.
Judy Jackson Our SRO Nathaniel Harris has become a total asset to our building He always ha a smile and students have alot of respect for. When an incident or situation occurs he handles it with professionalism and also as a caring human being. He talks and
Richmond Public Schools | 301 North 9th Street | Richmond, VA | www.rvaschools.net
listens so he will know best how yo proceed. He let's them know that maybe they could have handled it in a better way. He goes above and beyond for our students. So please allow him to remain a part of our Armstrong High School community
Principal Willie Bell, Armstrong HS I am writing on behalf of the School Resource Officers. I am concerned when there are discussions of compromising safety students, teachers, administrators, and staff. In my opinion, safety should not be a public comment section to weigh in, this is Priority #1 for schools. Especially when SRO's are not a budgetary concern (not in the RPS budget) but an essential, necessary asset to the school day.
Many of our students see school as a safe haven from home or community issues where they can focus on their education without the danger of senseless violence. Students have no background knowledge of the measures administration, school security officers and school resource officers deploy to ensure that they are safe during the instructional day so they can return safely home. It is our job as adults to ensure safety measures are afforded them but this can't be executed with additional mental health personnel, counselors, etc (these positions do affect the RPS budget). These individuals are trained in their respective areas not law enforcement and public safety.
School Resource Officers (SRO's) are trained to build relationships with students that make community policing easier. SRO's visit classes discussing citizenship, the importance of education, community concerns, and serve as role models/coaches in schools as well as the community.
Please let me list a few real-life scenarios that have occurred in our schools where law enforcement is needed on-site to perform the duties and responsibilities that they are trained: 1 - Fights that elevate to riots that initiate cell phone calls to the community and persons from the community are at the front door, on campus, trying to enter to create more violence. 2 - Neighborhood violence occurring in our communities daily that spill over to our schools where school resource officers provide detailed intelligence to administration for violence/crisis prevention. 3 - Weapons, drugs, and other illegal contraband that are attempted to enter our buildings where school resource officers are on- site to address these violations alongside administration. Administration, teachers, staff, and additional personnel are not trained to initiate Active Shooter Protocol. 4 - Child traffiking and pornography rings that are attempted through cell phone contact that only law enforcement is equipped to address.
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5 - Attempted violent activity that is planned for dismissals that our school resource officers have played huge dividends in avoiding unnecessary harm to students and staff. 6 - Gun play in the community near schools where school resource officers investigate and communicate with administration if the building should enter lockdown status. 7 - Fights and attempted acts of violence at bus stops before school and after school. Bus drivers dispatch the school where administration along with school resource officers are summoned due to the relationships built during the school day with students versus a 911 call and our students receive charges that could be avoided. 8 - Parent conferences where parents enter the building under the pretense to administer street justice on a teacher or administrator. Administration, teachers, or staff are not trained to remove these individuals from the building.
Mr. Spock from Star Trek provided a profound statement for all of us to follow when handling difficult situations that involve students, teachers, and staff:
"THE NEED OF THE MANY, OUTWEIGH THE NEED OF THE FEW OR THE ONE!!!!!" John Rager, VA Resident
It's an insane idea to remove school resource officers from VA schools. Who will protect them? No one! If god forbid something happens they will call 911 to have a trained person with a gun show up to save lives. Why add valuable response time and risk lives just to push a harmful political narrative? Almost all incidents are over before police show up. Having an armed resource officer is the only way to give students a chance. Please stop this madness.
You also must allow schools who can't afford resources officers to train teachers and staff to carry guns school property. Don't punish schools and students who don't have enough money to protect themselves. Security should be available to all and not just wealthy school systems.
John Rager Maidens, VA Resident
Thank you for your consideration of this comment. My name is Vicki Yeroian, and I am the Executive Director of Podium RVA and a Board member of the VA Council on LGBTQIA+ Advocacy. I am writing today to leave a comment regarding police in schools. I
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want to start by saying that I have worked after-school with youth in RPS in various capacities since 2009, and more thoroughly once employed at Podium RVA in 2014. From my time working alongside incredible educators, administrators, and school resource officers, I realized there was a greater need there that no one could address. In fact, school resource officers and guidance counselors were expected to fill the shoes of professions they do not have formalized training or education in. When a child acts out, breaks rules or laws, alienates themselves, or causes harm to themselves or people around them, those are clear signs that person needs help. They are not adults, no matter how old they act, and they cannot, due to their age and brain development, have a full grasp of how to interpret or control their emotions, feelings, or hormones. Why would our first response to that be to send in a formally trained police officer? (regardless of how caring and compassionate of people they are)
Mental health professionals, such as Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) and Certified Mental Health Professionals (CMHP), are individuals who are equipped to handle the situations listed earlier. If a student needs help, if they need a trusted adult to build a healthy relationship with, then that should be a priority. Outside of a COVID world, schools offer after-school time, so they should be able to offer students the opportunity to engage with mental health professionals for as long as they need and free of charge. The earlier you get youth talking, the easier problems are to handle down the road. Pay a School Resource Officer to be in charge of several schools, and have their base be at a centrally located office where they can quickly get to a school if needed. Right now, RPS is set up where several schools share a single Counselor/Psychologist but have multiple SROs employed daily. This is backwards and of course, whether intentional or not, criminalizes our youth. We don't give them access to resources they need, and instead, we supplement that with those who can only attempt to mediate until they have no other choice but to employ legal authority. Why is that our process for the youth we are there to educate and protect?
I know this to be true because at Podium, it is our mission to fuel the writing, communication, and leadership passion and skills within the youth we serve. That means being an active part of hearing and sharing their stories. From the time I have spent with our youth after-school, one thing I know to be true is that having a trusted adult to come to, to build a relationship with that builds positive coping and social emotional skills, certainly makes a difference. From this comment, we can all draw the conclusion that RPS students should be involved at a much greater length and capacity in both sharing their experiences and shaping our solution to police in schools. The answers are already here.
My name is Graham Sturm and I am writing today in support of our SROs. I am a history teacher at Armstrong High School but today I would like to talk to you about another history teacher from Armstrong High School.
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On June 15th 1998 Armstrong history teacher Greg Carter was shot in the hallway of Armstrong High School. Eight to nine bullets flew through the hallway that day. He was not the only person shot.
The following was posted in the New York Times as the story ran nationally: "Richmond's deputy police chief, Teresa Gooch, said the shots had been fired from a .32-caliber Llama semiautomatic handgun. Several students were in the corridor at the time of the shooting, and investigators believe that one of them, and not Mr. Carter or Ms. Wilson, was the intended target. The shooting followed an argument earlier in the day between two groups of youths but was not gang-related, Ms. Gooch said. The gunman was chased down by a uniformed city police officer who was stationed at the school." Fortunately no one was killed that day at Armstrong.
I am no stranger to a school shooting. I was a sophomore on campus at Virginia Tech the day that a gunman entered the building, chained and locked the doors from the inside, and shot and killed 30 of my peers. The RPS data presented showed that in the previous year Armstrong had seven arrests but the data does not show the two students that were killed outside of the building this year as a result of the gun violence that plagues the community for which I teach. And so I write to remind you all that our first priority as educators is always, always, always student safety. As one of your teachers, do not ask me to be the next Greg Carter just as I ask that you not allow any of my students to be the next Graham Sturm.
Our SRO's name is Nate Harris. He deserves your support as he enters our building each day with the knowledge that he is there to protect our children and that he may be the only person capable of preventing another school shooting.
This comment is submitted by Cassie Powell and Brionna Nomi on behalf of the Legal Aid Justice Center. We appreciate that RPS is reviewing the presence of police in RPS, and applaud the decision by Superintendent Kamras to recommend that RPS end its MOU with RPD. However, much more is needed to stop the culture of pushout in RPS. We urge the Board to: • Approve the recommendation by Superintendent Kamras to end the MOU between RPD and RPS; • Divest the $4 million currently spent on school security and invest those dollars in student support staff; • Work with the City to divest monies from RPD currently spent on SROs and invest in counselors and social workers to attend to the social and emotional needs of students; • Revise SCORE by eliminating out of school suspensions for minor incidents, making the SCORE less punitive and focusing more on interventions and supports, and removing the mandatory reassignment of children charged with certain offenses, and other changes as imagined by communities;
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• Solicit truly engaged community feedback on school discipline and safety in our schools, including opportunities for authentic community dialogue from community members and youth with the Board and the administration. We believe that the opportunities for true engagement on this issue by community members has been limited, and more creative approaches are needed to ensure authentic engagement on this issue. RPS has a long, deeply imbedded culture of disproportionately pushing out its students of color and students with disabilities. In 2016, LAJC filed an Office of Civil Rights complaint with the U.S. Education Department regarding RPS’ disproportionate discipline of students of color and students with disabilities compared to white students, a complaint that remains pending. According to data released from the Virginia Department of Education, • During the 2018-2019 school year, Black students made up 66.1% of the total student population but 90.7% of all students receiving short-term suspensions, 92.9% of students receiving long-term suspensions, and 100% of students expelled; • 38% of students at Armstrong High School in Richmond received at least one short-term suspension in 2018-2019; • 49 students from George Wythe High School in Richmond received a long-term suspension (more than 10 days) in 2018-2019; • 34% of students at MLK Middle School in Richmond received at least one short-term suspension in 2018-2019; and, • 14% of students at Chimborazo Elementary in Richmond received at least one short-term suspension in 2018-2019. Clearly, there exists a trend of pushout for students in RPS that is excessive and unfairly targets students of color, a trend that has persisted over many years. We routinely hear this in the stories from our clients and the community members we work with, many of whom are Black students and/or students with disabilities, who are “paneled” for even minor incidents and suffer trauma due to the over-presence of police in their neighborhoods and schools. We fear that this discrimination is likely to be exacerbated during and beyond the current crisis. Additionally, data indicates that students in America suffer approximately one assault per week at the hands of police officers in schools. Just last year, RPS students suffered a verbal assault by an RPD officer at Albert Hill Middle School. History shows us that police in schools in America grew out of backlash over integration, not through any evidence that police in schools make them safer. There’s also no evidence to suggest that SROs prevent school shootings, but research consistently suggests that police in schools are associated with higher levels of school pushout and lower achievement results. School Security Officers also contribute to school pushout in RPS. During two listening sessions held with community members regarding the role of police in schools, multiple community members expressed concerns with the way security personnel escalate conflicts with students and inflict harm on students. Community members expressed that SSOs often created more problems for students than SROs. To focus solely on RPD and not at all on SSOs would miss a vital piece of the way over- policing in RPS pushes students out through the school to prison pipeline. Finally, the reopening and school pushout are connected. Many students will experience school pushout for failure to engage in virtual learning. RPS has noted that children must participate in school, implying that students who do not engage virtually will face truancy actions. Embracing a more effective, restorative, and fairer approach to student behavior is more important than ever. If RPS wants to stop pushing out
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students of color and students with disabilities, RPS needs to commit to changing the policies, practices, and culture that allows it to happen. Ongoing and engaged feedback from community members, students, and parents—particularly those who have experienced school pushout within RPS—is vital to ensuring a robust review of the role of policing in RPS. We urge the Board to ensure an open, transparent, and community driven review of all of these issues to ensure RPS is keeping youth in school, not pushing them out
Dear Chairwoman Owen, Vice-Chairwoman Burke, Superintendent Kamras, and Members of the Board, We, the undersigned organizations and community members, write this letter to urge the Board to end the pushout of RPS students. Currently, Richmond’s Student Code of Responsible Ethics (SCORE) and the presence of school resource officers (SROs) and school security officers (SSOs) work in tandem to push Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and LGBTQ students, as well as students with disabilities, out of Richmond Public Schools and into the school-to-prison pipeline. We applaud Superintendent Kamras’ recommendation that SROs be removed from schools. However, we believe that such action, without more, will be wholly insufficient to remedy the excessive pushout of students from RPS. An extensive culture change, led by impacted youth and community members, is crucial to ensuring an end to the harm that is continuously perpetuated on Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and LGBTQ students, as well as students with disabilities, by RPS’s practice of excessive pushout. We urge the Board and the RPS Administration to immediately: • End the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Richmond Police Department and remove School Resource Officers (SROs) from RPS; • Divest the approximately $4 million RPS currently spends on school security services, including School Security Officers (SSOs), and invest that money in mental health supports and restorative justice programs as imagined by communities; • Make significant changes to the Student Code of Responsible Ethics (SCORE) to ensure meaningful interventions are practiced whenever possible as opposed to suspension and expulsion, and; • Undertake authentic, engaged, and intentional community and youth-led processes to inform the above decisions and to develop additional details. We believe the pandemic, in forcing the need for virtual learning, creates a unique and urgent opportunity for RPS to fundamentally change its culture of pushout. When students return to school, we can expect that students will have more extensive social and emotional needs than ever before. The time to make these changes is now. True community input from those youth and families who are most impacted by school pushout is vital for this culture change. The undersigned organizations and community members are available to meet with RPS to provide input and share details on how that community engagement should occur. We urge the Board to act with the immediacy that this moment calls for and end school pushout in RPS. We thank you for your consideration of these comments.
Legal Aid Justice Center;
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Performing Statistics; Side by Side Virginia Council on LGBTQ+ GLSEN Richmond The Neighborhood Resource Center of Greater Fulton 2LOVE, LLC I Vote For Me Dignity in Schools Campaign Partners for Dignity & Rights Richmond for All’s Public Education Campaign Committee Richmond Chapter of Virginia Organizing The Woman of God’s Design Ministry CEPNO A Black Education Network Nollie Jenkins Family Center Elite Educational Consulting Go-High Corp Advocates For Equity in Schools Racial Justice NOW! Sunflower County Parents and Students United Midwest Center for School Transformation Twin Cities Innovation Alliance Solutions Not Suspensions Keisha Cummings Stephanie Rizzi Kim Young Luis Luna Arianna Trickey Sean Lovelace Lucy Schapiro Jeannie Bowker
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Sargeant Stacy Rogers of the RPD received a number of comments regarding specific SROs in RPS building. He submitted the following comments which will take us to the end of these comments.
Catrina Cheek I am a teacher at Huguenot High school. I am very concern as to why the position of an SRO can be removed from our schools. The need for Officer Ruffin and other SRO are essential to the growth and development of your youth. Yes, a major part of an SRO ditties maybe to protect us, but their presence is a blanket of peace. With an SRO knowledge of the communities, the students know that not only are they being nurtured by the teachers, but also by the SRO's. They services Officer Ruffin provides is the glue that helps cultivate future generation’s minds in becoming better and more of a productive citizen. Knowing that Officer Ruffin opportunity to enlighten the future is being compromised, should be unrealistic. There has been nothing negative about the presence of Officer Ruffin. So, what's the need to rethink or remove the blanket of peace that helps not only staff but especially the students. With the magnitude of violence currently, there is a need to showcase a positive light for who service the community is all aspects of a student’s life. Plus, there is no way our schools, staff or students will be at ease. Colonel Taylor In my humble opinion, removing individuals like Officer Ruffin would be a very bad decision. His efforts at the school with mentoring through physical fitness supplemented his ability to assist with security at our building. We also need people like Officer Ruffin so our students can experience a positive relationships with law enforcement instead of the negative relationship they see on TV. Craig Christmas Hello, I am a counselor at Huguenot HS and have been there for 22 years. Officer Ruffin by far has had the biggest impact on the staff and students in my time. His dedication to the Huguenot family is unmatched because of his positive energy, attention to details and daily charisma. His approach with the students is unique and has proven to be effective because of the relationships he has continued to build. He is always willing to assist the faculty in any way possible and even sponsored an afterschool program to uplift and encourage our students. His daily presents makes everyone feel more safe and at ease. Removing him from our building will be a huge mistake because of the positive impact that he has on everyone on a daily basis. Dani Rodgers Dear Sir or Madam: I write this letter of support to highlight all of the great work that Officer Ruffin does for our community at Huguenot High School. He has been an integral part of our building for many years and I cannot imagine him not being there. He positively interacts with all, from faculty and staff to, most importantly, students. In this time where police reform is taking place and should take place,
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Officer Ruffin has been building positive relationships with students through his role as SRO for years. He is a counselor, a friend, a role model, and protector; he builds positive relationships with students who may not have had the easiest path in life, particularly with law enforcement. I know of several students who showed up to school and stayed all day merely because they wanted to attend his P.H.I.T program in the afternoon. Finally, he also serves and protects in moments which the students may not even be aware of his duties. When we've gone on lockdowns due to safety threats in the building or community, as a teacher, sitting on the floor with her students, maintaining calm in what should rightly be a frightening situation, I take faith in the knowledge that someone who is trained to protect us during these times is there, not just because it his "job", but because we are his community. Huguenot would not be the same without him. Darlene Hester-Slade, Teacher Good afternoon, I am writing this in support of Officer Willie Ruffin Jr. The SRO currently assigned to Huguenot High School. Officer Ruffin in his current capacity is the epitome of positivity, healthy living, and student advancement. I have never witnessed him be anything other than professional, positive, and forever promoting a better way to handle difficult situations. If not for his uniform, it would be hard to identify Officer Ruffin as a police officer. He does not brandish his position but handles situations that call for his professional intervention discreetly and with as little disruption as possible. Officer Ruffin is a valuable member of our school community and would be sorely missed by faculty staff and students. While I understand the thought behind removing SROs for the school setting, I also believe that this is not a decision or action that can be made without careful thought, planning, and gradual implementation. I truly believe to abruptly remove Officer Ruffin from our school would cause more harm than good. Thank you in advance for your thoughtful consideration of this matter. Jeanne F. Davis I have taught at Huguenot High School for the past ten years, and I have seen first hand the positive impact our SROs have had on our students. These dedicated professionals have worked hard to establish relationships with our students and bridge the gap between student and administration. Their presence has made all students, even the most troubled ones, feel welcomed and cared for. I passionately believe it would be a mistake to remove SROs from our schools. Office Ruffin has made personal connections with all the students at Huguenot! He knows all of them by name. He hangs out in the hall in the morning, greets them and socializes with them as they arrive, and checks in with them in the halls throughout the day. He is at sporting events, and he mentors students through his PHIT program. He is not there to discipline the students; that is the role of the teachers, administration, and security. However, should the services of a police officer be needed, it is a comfort to all of us, students and adults alike, to know that he is there. I would like to address two points, in particular, that have been brought up in the news.
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One: SROs are not in schools to arrest students, and there are not more student arrests as a result of SROs being in the schools. If there is an increase in the number of student arrests, we need to place the blame where it belongs…on the students themselves. However, put yourself in their place. Imagine how scared you would be, particularly if you were a person of color as most of our students are. Now, who do you want to be the person to process you—the SRO that you know and trust or the unknown police officer that walks in off the street? Removing the SROs will not reduce the number of arrests; it will only make the process much more difficult. The second point was made by the students on RPS Live who said that SROs made them feel as if they were in prison instead of in school. I think they were being typically dramatic. Students always say they think school is a prison—not because of SROs, but because schools have restrictions. Students have to have a pass to leave the classroom, they have to be in class on time and stay there until the bell rings, they can’t just get up and leave anytime they want, the food is terrible, and on and on. The people in the building have nothing to do with it! Students walk through metal detectors, too. Should we stop with that procedure because it appears that we don’t trust them? Should we let students roam the building because, if we stop them and ask for their pass, we are treating them like prisoners? Who is in charge? The children or the adults? I urge you to consider the positive impact the SROs have on our schools and keep them in our schools…for the sake of our children who need them there. Frances Colvin Bon Secours Sports Medicine and Huguenot High School Head Athletic Trainer
Good evening!!
I am just getting your email so I hope this is still helpful. I as the athletic trainer have you in our schools as such a positive influence! I see you working with the students in the fit program and they all enjoy working out with you. They all come and talk about you and how helpful you are and just giving them something positive to do in the afternoons after school instead of going home. I can't imagine the school without you there. Thank you for all you do and please let me know if there is anything else I can do to support you and this mission!!
Jeff Gunther, Social Studies Educator, Head Baseball Coach, Huguenot High School Good afternoon, Hope all is well with you and you're staying on your grind. You have been one of the people that has been at the forefront of my mind as I have attempted to educate myself, advocate, and digest much of the narrative surrounding the role of the police in our communities. On a more personal level, you have been a motivating influence on my growth as both a teacher and a coach. To be clear, I think pulling yourself and other mentoring SROs out of the schools would do more harm than good. You represent everything that people who are advocating for defunding and removing the police from our communities are suggesting our police officers become. You are a mentor, advocate for children, and a role model for many. Your after school program has brought in a cadre of students who ordinarily would be finding recreation elsewhere, often on the streets. I understand that we
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will not be in the building for the foreseeable future but I think that you personally have earned your place at Huguenot. Please let me know if I can provide any other pertinent information. Jerry Cooper, M.Ed , Physical Education Department Head, Huguenot High School Mr. Willie Ruffin has been an asset to Huguenot High School. I have had the privilege of teaching at Huguenot since 2001 and I have never seen an officer with this kind of rapport with our students. Mr. Ruffin teaches classes within my department, where he discusses civil responsibility/duties, new/current laws, what to do when pulled over, and he answers the many questions from our students and teachers. I have seen him organize groups after school too. He organized Kings United and several young men and women joined this group. This group provided a platform where our students could talk about social issues, provide educational support, and a safe haven to express themselves. In addition, he organized the PHIT program which really focused on improving our students overall health and wellness. I have seen this group grow from a couple to over 30 students and wellness levels varied from obese to very athletic. Since I teach Physical Education and Health, I teach or have taught most of these students, and I could really see a difference in their overall health, not just physical, but social and mental too. In conclusion, I personally think it's a grave mistake even thinking about removing the officers from our buildings. If we look at all the social issues in America right now, we need officers building rapport with our students. I see people commenting on social media platforms daily about this, but they do not work in these buildings and they do not know the true narrative. I have seen so many students come up to officer Ruffin and tell him if someone has a weapon, or if something from the neighborhood is spilling over into the school. Without someone who knows the demographic and climate of the building, we will have nervous and over zealous officers responding to an emergency and they may overreact! Personally, I think the sro's should provide the MILO training at each school to provide a different perspective for our students. We had this training with all PE/Health teachers, our staff at Huguenot and it really changed some perspectives. Please do the right thing and leave the sro's in our buildings! Kristyn Miller, Teacher, Huguenot HS Good Afternoon - I send this email in support of SRO Ruffin’s positive impact at Huguenot High School. His role in the building surpasses the role of "officer". He is a confidante, role model, and genuinely good person within the Huguenot family. His holistic efforts impact not only the security of the building but also students' wellness and mental health. He is needed and he is much appreciated.... not only by staff but by the students he has sworn to protect and serve. Oliver Norrell
To whom it may concern:
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The SRO's at Huguenot have been among the most positive influences in the building during my time teaching. Officer Ruffin in particular is often referred to positively by both students and staff. He's always willing to answer any questions and have conversations about how things look from a law enforcement perspective. There have been many times that students would prefer to talk to him about issues they are having than talk with anyone else. He's a role model for many of the young men in the building. Even the group that he's put together for fitness after school has been a major success.
In short, to consider taking away the SRO's is exactly what should not happen if you want a better environment for the students. From my observations there is a misunderstanding about who is doing what with this entire argument. SRO's do not suspend people. SRO's are not the first people involved in the overwhelming majority of physical situations. SRO's are professional and capable individuals. If our goal is to raise upstanding men and women then it doesn't make sense to take great examples of that away. Nicole Glover, Execptional Eductation Teacher, Huguenot Good evening, The relationship Officer Ruffin has with the students at Huguenot is one to model. He greats students in the morning and has conversations with them just about how they are doing. The PHITT Program is one the students look forward to and truly enjoy. I have witness relationship between Officer Ruffin and students that other staff could not reach. To remove such positive role models from our schools would be detrimental. Thank you Mrs. Joanna Minott , Earth Science Teacher, Huguenot High School, RPS Dear Officer Ruffin, I wholeheartedly lend my support to have you as an SRO at Huguenot High school. Examples abound, on how you consistently mentored, supported and redirected students into doing the right thing. I thought the purpose of SROs in schools was to cultivate positive relationships between law enforcement and our urban student population. Which you have effectively achieved. You actively engaged in creating an Afterschool Exercise and Wellness Program. Both Johniesha and Ayanna raved about it. They loved having Officer Sanchez also mentor them as females and her bilingual credentials created safe spaces for our LatinX students. Throughout the school year, you showed up for staff and students EVERYDAY!! I know when I was a victim of a crime in the parking lot, you and Officer Sanchez were great at providing support and resources, and recommending where to park so I could feel safe. I bring this up, because the perpetrator was not a member of the Huguenot family, which reminds us of the utmost importance of SROs, to deter outsiders. Just last year, a parent pulled a gun out at a cheer-leading tournament. SRO's should be members of our school communities, in addition to mental health personnel, they are not mutually exclusive, or substitutes of each other. They serve two different purposes in the full development of a kid.
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Officer Ruffin, you have been a positive male role model for our students. To put you in any other light, especially during this 2020 Racial Equality Reckoning is unfair. You have been the total opposite of what we saw done to George Floyd. In fact, most of RPS's SROs are men of color. And so we, within the black community, once again fall victim to job loss, reputation tarnishing and loss of resources as a fallout for white cops killing unarmed black men. Hopefully this decision can be reversed and we can keep Officer Ruffin at our school. If not, then create a weekly Officer in Schools outreach program. Please feel free to use all or part of my email to support your cause. Monique Harris I am a school counselor at Huguenot, and I see the positive impact that Officer Ruffin has on our students everyday. He is a friendly face during morning intake, during class changes, and at dismissal. He has formed positive relationships with all of our students and has been able to successfully reach some of our most challenging students. He is a positive male influence in our building who often talks students down from doing things that they will regret.
Students often tell him things that they heard will happen or know that is going on in an attempt to keep our school safe. His presence alone deters a lot of students from doing things that they should not do. He is never aggressive or intimidating. He does all that he can to assist the administration, faculty, and staff as well as works with detectives, parents, and students regarding outside charges or incidents that spill over into our school. He has even given me advice several times regarding minor incidents.
Officer Ruffin sponsors an afterschool club where he uses a comprehensive approach to nurture students mental and physical health through informative seminars and physical activity. He even welcomes the staff to join in. His club members showed up every week on time and stayed the entire time. They referred so many of their friends that he had to close membership so that it wouldn't become overwhelming. I often stopped by to see what they were doing or talking about and it was always relevant information and the students were always engaged. Please do not remove our SRO. I do not know what we would do without him. I am really scared to think of us having an incident where we have to call the police and having stranger police officers running into the building to assist. To me, that is when you will have negative situations because the students don't know the officers and may not comply. I understand that we are going through a transition in this country regarding policing, but removing SRO's is not the answer. I strongly feel that my safety and the safety of my students and all employees at Huguenot will be in jeopardy if Officer Ruffin is removed!!!! I am willing to speak publicly if necessary because this is very important to me. Thank you for your time and consideration,
Mary Ann Cisne
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Good morning Mr. Young and Mrs. Doerr:
Okay - the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) which tracks hate groups maintains that HATE is taught by the age of ...... five. Therefore, as a long-time, former middle school counselor retired from Henrico County Public Schools, I valued the opportunity to help the “village to raise a child”. I felt that one of the partners in doing so was our SRO. The people who worked in that position in our middle school were ALWAYS well-trained models of character and life-skills for our students. The SRO was very visible, engaged and accessible for staff, students and parents. As I watched the horrific incidents recently on the media, I could only think - if only – if only the persons both on the police force and those being apprehended would have had the background of an SRO in school, lives might have been saved. I urge you to investigate the SRO program in RPS and determine how it might benefit individual students, the schools they attend, the families from which they come and their places in difficult situations. I think RPS would be making an enormous mistake by moving to eliminate the SRO program and not enhancing the opportunity afforded to benefit so many students who need this assistance.
Shaneka Oliver, Assistant Principal Huguenot High School Good Afternoon, Officer Ruffin has been the SRO during my 4 year tenure at Huguenot High School. Officer Ruffin is dependable, trustworthy, and he has gone above and beyond to build positive relationships with staff and students. Officer Ruffin serves as a mentor to students both during and after school. He is visible in the hall during transitions, in the cafeteria, school assemblies, and sporting events. He can often be seen conversing with teachers and students and occasionally serves as a guest speaker in classrooms. After school he mentors students via his FIT program which is a spin-off of his male mentoring program of previous years formerly called "Kings United". Officer Ruffin realized a need for a positive outlet for both male and female students and he connects with them 3 days a week utilizing mentorship, physical fitness, and community engagement to reach students. I have personally witnessed several students turn themselves around and get back on the right track from being involved in Officer Ruffin's program. In conjunction with serving as a mentor Officer Ruffin knows his duties and responsibilities as a Richmond Police Officer and carries them out with fidelity. He communicates clearly and respectfully with all stakeholders and always conducts himself in a professional manner regardless of the circumstance. Officer Ruffin is a valued member of the Huguenot High School team who strives daily to make a positive difference in the lives of our students. Thank you for your time. Pat Sessions, Science Teacher, Huguenot I am honored to share the positive impact that my colleague, (Officer) Ruffin, has on both the staff and students at Huguenot high school. I've had the pleasure of working with him for the past 3 years since I transferred to Huguenot. Prior to that, I worked at RAS (formerly ACDC) and George Wythe high schools for a total of 18 years, with an intermittent break from RPS when I taught at
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Yvonne B. Miller School at the Department of Juvenile Justice, Bon Air and Beamont campuses. Having said that, my experience is broad in working with youths and their interaction with colleagues of law training in varying settings. Ruffin truly cares and has genuine concerns about all of us particularly, the students. He sponsors programs to help the youth succeed, emotionally, mentally and physically. In addition to day to day involvement, he sponsors self-help groups through a program, Kings United, and a co-ed group that focuses on mental and physical health, including weekly exercise participation. But more important than that- the students greet him, ask him how he's doing, tell him what's up, fist bump him, elbow bump, foot tap, give him a head nod...trust him. Irreplaceable feeling. (Officer) Ruffin is an asset to our school and his positive interactions will create lifelong learning skills to carry with them after leaving high school. Pamela K. Ragin, Instructional Compliance Coordinator, Huguenot High School To Whom It May Concern: I am writing this letter in support of Officer Ruffin, and the support he provides to the students and staff at Huguenot High School. As a sister of a police officer and an SRO in Cobb County, and in one of the largest high schools, and not in an inner city school, she has shared the same concerns and has faced similar issues within her high school. Officer Ruffin is a calming presence within our school. He has a great rapport with the students, faculty and parents. He is a mentor to our students and is not looked upon as a threat. He works with students after school and is very patient. I am constantly referring our students with disabilities to his after school program, and there is noticeable change in their behaviors. He does not want a school to prison pipeline. When irate parents or students come into the building he is there to quickly deescalate and issues that arise. Officer Ruffin emulates what we want our students to see and expect from other officers that they may come in contact within the community. T. Ellis To whom it may concern, I’m a teacher at Huguenot High School and I’ve had the pleasure of working with Officer Ruffin for the past 3 years. I’ve always had nothing but positive interactions with him. He was able to help me with a situation at another school by sharing advice and explaining local policies. His interactions with the students have been positive as well. I see students waiting for him after school so they can work out together. He’s present in the building helping us, teachers and students, feel safe. Please reconsider removing him from the building, it would be such a disservice to our school community. Tara L. Brown Dear Superintendent Kamras and School Board Members:
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I have worked at Huguenot for 25 years. I have been there before security guards and school resource officers and after. I know if anyone ever met our school resource officer, Officer Ruffin, they would want him at their school. When I think of him, I do not think of safety or crime prevention as most may assume. I think of him as a friend and colleague that cares for our students just as much as I do. He is the ideal. He is the community liaison, educator, and mentor that we need at Huguenot. He is the male role model that runs the after-school fitness program for students. He is the one who comes to football and basketball games to support our students. He is the one in the hallways communicating in a gentle manner with students. He is the one that I can always send my students to for sound advice that I might not be able to give or have the right knowledge. Even though I have only worked at Huguenot, my daughter had the pleasure to work with many school resource officers, including Officer Ruffin, at a summer camp last year. She would come home and tell me stories of how nice all the officers were and what they did for their home schools during the year. Working with them convinced her that she one day would like to teach for Richmond Public Schools. Please keep our school resource officers that have become RPS family.
Teresa Rosier
To Whom It May Concern, I am writing this letter in support of maintaining School Resource Officers in Richmond Public Schools. Officer Willie Ruffin, Jr., Huguenot High School Resource Officer, is a very inspirational and caring adult within the educational environment. Officer Ruffin along with the assigned RPS Safety and Security Specialists ensures the safety and security of the building, our student, teachers and other faculty members. He has developed strong relationships with students and other adults that are key factors in his success as a SRO. He is a positive resource to school staff, students, and parents. I have witnessed Officer Ruffin’s daily interactions with students whether it was to solve a problem or just a casual conversation. I have seen Officer Ruffin defuse a heated situation in a calm and peaceful manner when no one else could reason with the individual (s) involved. He developed an after-school resource and mentor group called PHIT. Many of his group members looked forward to the times they spent with him and their peers. Speaking with some of his participants, they did not look at him as just a Police Officer, they looked at him as a friend and even some as a father figure.
Ensuring a safe and healthy school environment where our youth can learn, thrive, and be prepared for life beyond high school, should be the dominate motivation for all of us. I feel much safer coming to work each day knowing that Huguenot High School have such a dedicated and caring professional School Resource Officer in the building. Officer Ruffin can and has demonstrated that he is a part of this equation in creating such a learning community to assist our students to meet any challenges they may face. During this time of police brutality and racial tensions, Officer Ruffin helps young people to build positive relationships with law enforcement and shows them that police are not the enemy.
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I highly recommend that Officer Ruffin and other SROs be maintained with RPS. I think removing SROs from the RPS school buildings would be an injustice to the students that has grown mentally and academically because of the outstanding support of the Police Officers.
Greetings and Good Afternoon, My name is Whitney Wilson and I am a School Social Worker at Huguenot High School. I am writing to you in support of our School Resource Officer, Mr. Ruffin- I have known and worked with Officer Ruffin in my tenure of 3 years at Huguenot. First, I would like to acknowledge that persons of color have been combating systemic challenges of racism and police brutality for decades of years and unfortunately, we still are. I do acknowledge that our communities of color, especially black men and black boys still experience racial profiling and have encountered hostile situations with police and in some cases, human life have ended abruptly, as witnessed in the media lately. Sadly, we still have a lot of work to do and we have to address the underlying deeper rooted issues of racism and prejudice in some people who were hired and sworn in to protect all Americans but instead have prayed upon and destroyed black lives and communities through their black and white "superior" lens.
Meanwhile, again, I am writing to shine the light on Officer Ruffin. Officer Ruffin is the ideal SRO for our school community. He is a tremendous role model for our students and our faculty. I have witnessed nothing but grace and positivity while in his presence.
I have also been fortunate to have his support when I have encountered many hostile situations such as mental health crises and suicidal ideations with a few of our young adults in the building. Officer Ruffin and I have worked together in partnership to serve our students and to keep them as safe as possible. He has always supported me and had my back when faced with tense other situations that involved gang and community violence and rape and human trafficking at Huguenot.
Officer Ruffin have always conducted himself in a professional manner and tried his best to DE-ESCALATE severe situations/crises at Huguenot. In my experiences and encounters, I have never seen him overly hostile with any students in the building. Instead, Officer Ruffin has built rapport and community with our students and families, especially those who have an extensive history of trauma/ and violence at school.
In addition to his great responsibilities as a School Resource Officer, Officer Ruffin ran an effective mentorship program for our students 4 days of the week after school. There, he led an active group of 40 plus students each day. He engaged the students by teaching them how to care for their mental health and physical health. I can attest to seeing him and the students active in the gym, weight room, track and field every day after school from 2:45 pm until 5 pm. He also invited guest speakers such as myself
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to speak about self-care and emotional support for our students. Officer Ruffin has taught students about black history, leadership, entrepreneurship, nutrition, self-esteem, confidence, self-value and a host of many other topics that students do not often get to talk about outside of school.
Officer Ruffin is extremely passionate and committed to his school community. He takes pride in doing his job and protecting all of the students and staff in the building. As a School Social Worker, I felt assured in being protected knowing that my SRO is actively present and cares about us. I felt assured seeing his car parked in the parking lot and knowing he was around for protection and in times of need. This is the type of love and care we need in our schools. Officer Ruffin is the representation we need- as a black man, a family man, a loving and nurturing person, and a superior role model. If we lost Officer Ruffin, we would lose a great resource and support- we would be doing our kids a disservice. Instead of removing SRO's, focus on building relationships in the community. We have to paint the police in a brighter light building trust with the community- that starts in schools. THERE ARE GOOD COPS AND MEN WHO OVERSHADOW THE BAD ONES. With my support and love of Officer Ruffin Zymora Scott, M.Ed, School Counselor, Huguenot High School Officer Ruffin has definitely had a POSITIVE impact on the students at Huguenot High School. It goes beyond the uniform he wears but since I mentioned "uniform" I will let his "uniforms" tell the story of his connection to our students, faculty and staff. When he reports to duty, Officer Ruffin is wearing his "duty" uniform which shows what/who he represents to the school body. His uniform garners him respect and he wears it well promoting the professionalism he has earned and deserved. His uniform provided a sense of calm, protection, security and support. It was Officer Ruffin's personality and professionalism that enabled the HHS students/staff feel like you could share anything with him, solicit advice, have a sounding board and know he was about helping us to make our HHS environment a successful learning environment and workplace. However, Officer Ruffin wore another uniforms (workout clothing) that allowed and enabled our students, faculty, staff to join him as he showed/taught us how to care for ourselves through the after school physical fitness program. No one was forced to participate, the participants did it because Officer Ruffin showed he cared about us and wanted to help and show us how to be stronger and healthier in a different school setting. Faculty, Staff, students enjoyed this outlet and it was a great way to wind down, but also a great way to see the care and love he had for all of us. This additional opportunity to show he cared about us only served to invoke trust and belief in who he represents and his focus helping to make us aware of taking our health seriously. He showed ways to invest in our school's culture, our students and faculty without being overbearing or from a fear tactic. Yes, we saw a Police Officer at our school because that's the uniform he wears and we know what it represents, but we we also saw was a mentor, disciplinarian,
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protector, teacher, and a friend. Removal would be a "big" mistake, he gives so much support for the "many", we cannot allow a minority voice take away the many great accomplishments and strides of the majority. Destini Braxton Hi Officer Foster, I was asked to send you an email with my input on how you've had a positive impact at Boushall.
1. Office Foster has willingly collaborated with the special education math teacher in order to talk to students in her classroom about bullying. Students were able to engage in a hands-on presentation with the teacher and SRO, instead of it being lecture style. Students were also comfortable enough to ask him questions about a career in law enforcement and answered questions about experiences with bullying. (see attached powerpoint) 2. Officer Foster has become involved with special education classroom learning as he again collaborated with the special education math teacher, in order to put together a SOL review math escape room based on a police investigation. Officer's name and location would have been changed to include Officer Foster as a means to relate the math content to real life experience. (see attached activity) 3. Officer Foster volunteered to read to a 7th grade science class during the grade level's daily "Mindfulness Moment" (30mins). 4. Officer Foster provides a safe place (his office) for students to come when they need a place to cool down and talk to a trusted adult. Most students view him as a trusted authoritative figure because of the time he takes to get to know the students on a personal level. He also makes sure his office has food for his visiting students.
I hope this list helps people understand that you have a positive impact at our school and that our community appreciates and your involvement with making our students feel safe and cared for. Good Afternoon,
I am writing in regard to the removal of SROs from our school.
I don’t know what is more disappointing; the fact that the people in charge of safety and security are unaware of the role of the SRO in the building or the fact that those people in charge don’t know what the day to day actions of a SRO looks like. Let’s be very clear, SROs are not the problem in our schools. The issue is the Safety and Security Officers who aren’t properly trained to deal with students, mental illness, conflict resolution, and restorative justice practices. SROs aren’t the ones body slamming children in hallways or cursing out students. My first year at Boushall, I saw a SSO slam a student in the hallway so hard he broke his tooth. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the last time I saw “body
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slamming” in school happen by a SSO. In terms of restraint, I have never seen an SRO restrain a child to the point where the child was injured. However, on numerous occasions SSOs have taken pride in taking students to the floor. That is unacceptable. That is unfair. That is injustice.
School Resource Officers are there to protect everyone and they fulfill that role mainly by addressing intruders in the school, adults who violate children, and diffusing chaos without negative action. For that, I am thankful. There have been several intruders at Boushall Middle School, both adults and children. For example, a parent entered into our school to fight a student. As a teacher, I felt safe knowing our SRO was there and I watched him approach the intruder instantly. Outside of protecting students and staff, our SRO has formed strong relationships with students who have experienced trauma and built a positive relationship with students that often view police as the enemy. Parents have preferred to speak with our SRO instead of principals and SSOs because of his diligence and attentiveness to students. Needless to say, it is more than beneficial to have an SRO who was born and raised in the city who fulfills such a great role in our school. The students relate to him, talk to him, confide in him, and even find peace in knowing he’s around more so than the SSOs in our school. He stands to welcome our students every morning and they often shake his hand before going to class. He even takes it upon himself to read books that the students are reading and join in on classroom discussions. The students love that! Most importantly, he leads with love just as the teachers are expected to. I have seen him mentor students and help their behavior improve.
Lastly, let’s clear up the lies. As a mother of a black son, I am more than appreciative of how the SROs operate in the school setting. They aren’t putting students in handcuffs or slamming them to the ground in school. In fact, the majority of the time an arrest is made in school, the officer takes all information and completes the arrest at the child’s home. Which usually consist of finger printing and paper work; not handcuffs. Why didn’t anyone mention this during the school board meeting? Anytime a police officer touches a student or even searchers a student at Boushall Middle School, it is after safety and security officers have completed an investigation and found probable cause to proceed. Why didn’t the head of safety and security have this information available for the school board? The negative light shed on SROs needs to be redirected to the SSOs who are improperly trained to deal with students who have already experience trauma at home and/or are dealing with mental illness.
To whomever it may concern I believe Officer May is helping out youths wherever he can. Using my experiences in the pal band, that I am a part of, I know he truly cares about everyone he helps and works very diligently to make sure everyone is a part of something that is worth spending their time in to advance themselves while also having fun. Everyone and I that works with or knows him can say that he is not like some of the police officers in the U.S. that look at you and immediately profiles you, he truly wants to help and I at least think it is self-evident through his many actions. Thank you for listening to my opinion.
A parent and staff member Good Evening School Board Members,
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As an educator at Martin Luther Ling Middle School, recommending the removal of the Security Resource officers from any Richmond Public Schools is not a reasonable opinion coming from someone who works in the school. Officer Ronald May is our resource, who enforces the law. Still, he is also involved with establishing a positive connection with our students and other students in the Richmond Public Schools area. With officer May being in the school, he is like an extra security net for staff and a person that I know for a fact that he is a person where students rely on him. Officer May engages with different students throughout Richmond City who has participated in his band, football, and Black History projects. Also, I would like to point out that people have said that they are alarmed by the number of arrests made by resource officers. Still, those resource officers are what make staff and students feel safe in the building. The majority of the time, they catch the drugs before a student makes it to class; they are a checking corner store making sure no students are in there skipping school. Just the mere presence of a resource officer can deescalate a situation before it gets out of hand. Security Specialists are right to tell if they could refrain from saying that they can't do this or can't do that or most common "this is in my job duties." We have had parents and other students to come into the school to fight other young students. We need to keep the resource officers in all schools. If you don't work in the school system, and I mean hands-on with students, not just breezing in for a stroll, then you have no idea what staff and students would go through without having a resource officer in the school. I am writing this memo on behalf of Officer Ronald May, who has served as the SRO at King Middle School for several years. I am an RPS teacher of 31 years, with 27 years at Mosby/King Middle School. Working in an urban school system brings challenges, most notably in terms of student behavior and attitudes. Many students do not see the value of education or seem to understand what acceptable behavior in public is. As a teacher I need to feel secure and safe, and I must say Officer May has helped me to feel safe as a teacher in my building. Officer May has positive rapport with students and is a calm spirit in the midst of many storms. Not only does he work with students as a police officer, he is part of the PAL program. He brings musical knowledge to students through his annual productions, of which I have been a part of for several years as a piano accompanist. Students are exposed to music they may not have exposure to otherwise. His work through PAL also helps students see him, a police officer, as a "real person". When I first heard that taking SROs out of the schools was being considered, I shuddered. I personally feel that SROs add another level of security to those other measures that have been taken to keep us all safe. I am hopeful that those in power will see fit to maintain the SRO position in Richmond Public Schools. To whom it may concern I emailing that Officer May is a very intelligent person. He is very kind and always helpful. I met Officer May last year when my son played with him in the PAL. He take the time to listen to what you have to say. Office May is very funny. When you ask him to do something he try his best to do it. We have such many good Police Officer like him. I met them during the Christmas program. I support having police officer in school. I'm a school teacher. I remember when they took Police out of school and lots of problem
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build in the school that they had to bring them back to the school. God gives us wisdom and knowledge don't make the same mistake again. The word say Judge not lest ye be Judge. We cannot look what other do but look at the GOOD of Men. DeYante McClay
Hello my name is DeYante McClay, and I have worked very closely with Officer Ronald May for over a decade now. He is a very integral and important part of the Richmond community, not only as a police officer who serves to protect but also as a mentor to many, including myself. I currently work as a teacher at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School where officer May is the resource officer at the school. He has been a tremendous help with protecting the students, staff, and any visitors that have been on the school premises. He has also served as a possible beacon of hope for many of the students there that have interacted with him on numerous occasions not only at MLK Jr. Middle but Armstrong High school as well. He's very passionate about his work, in and out of his police uniform. He can see things from multiple angles that you may not see at first glance; which makes him an essential asset to anyone who has him a part of their life. Even his involvement with young people in the form of the Police Athletic League has directly impacted me and many others over the years. His work is not without merit and his continued support for not only a strong education system but also the arts in education prove that he is dedicated to finding other means of making Richmond a better place for everyone who has the pleasure of meeting him. FROM: Howard Hopkins, Administrator, RPS RE: SRO Significance for RPS I have been privileged to work for Richmond Public Schools 52 years; starting in 1967 as a Health and Physical Education teacher at Maggie Walker High School in 1967 I have been fortunate to serve in the responsible capacity as a teacher, coach, athletic director, drop-out prevention coordinator, assistant principal, and principal in 11 different locations. Those combined experiences allowed me to assess the personnel needs, flow, and quality necessary to provide a quality education for the children we serve each day. In a normal school day before a child boards the bus, be checked by security before entering the building, enters his or her first class at any grade level, there are some givens, that we often overlook, that are paramount for a child to have a successful schooling experience. In school communities that are challenged with the presence and evidence of poverty, it is very important to have an effective liaison to bridge the gap between school and the community. I often refer to school and home as a 17-7 tug of war. Children spend 17 hours in their community and 7 hours at school. While we make every effort to provide a conducive and safe environment driven by rules and expectations during the 7 hours at school, we do not have any control over the 17 hours in the community where expectations may not be monitored to fidelity.
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In my experiences at all levels I have served in public education, I have appreciated the role and commitment of the city funded SRO positions in the school and community. In many ways, they help to bridge the 17-7 gap I talked about previously. It is especially effective when the SRO also works or have worked in the same community of the school they serve. When I was serving as Athletic Director, the SRO was one of the ambassadors at (home) athletic contest and other athletic events. His or her presence was effective for crowd control and a familiar face for students who knew the expectations of the administration and officers. The SRO communicated and engaged with parents, visitors, and students during the events. AT Armstrong, in the 90’s, Officer Ronald May was the first SRO I had the privilege to work with. His school and community relationship served both the school and community to help bridge the gap during some very challenging times. Most recently, I have the privilege to work with Officer May again at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School where he currently serves as the SRO and coach our students in the PAL football program. An effective and dedicated SRO who is visible and present throughout the building during the day, who greet students, staff, and parents in the morning and is visible at the end of the school day augments school and building security and safety. Unfortunately, schools experience unlawful situations by students and irate parents that require the expertise of the SRO who is readily available. Without the presence of an SRO, in many threatening situations, it is frightening to think what may happen without the SRO’s presence. In the absence of an SRO in the building, I often think about what could happen between a critical incidents, the call and arrival time of an officer outside the building. After my many years of experience and the escalated aggressive behavior of too many of our students, I am trusting that our leadership will give profoundly serious consideration to maintain the SRO’s in our schools and communities. Tracy James To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing this letter in support of School Resource Officers in Richmond Public Schools. As a someone who has worked with students in the Richmond metro areas for a number of years, I have come to value the programming and support provided by Richmond Police Department’s SROs.
Having a Resource officers in schools has not only offered protection to students and staff in the building, it has also provided students with several opportunities to engage with a caring adult. While School Resource Officers are highly instrumental in times of crisis, the day to day support that they offer the school is critical.
SROs serve as mentors. They encourage students to make healthy choices. It is likely because of their support that students will be less likely to engage in any delinquent behavior or drug usage. Through field trips, they provide opportunities for students to see and be part of experiences that help them to see past their neighborhoods and personal circumstances.
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I have been privileged to work with Officer Ronald May. I have seen firsthand the benefit of his presence at Martin Luther King Middle School. He has coached sports and mentored students. Several students as a result of his encouragement have gone on the finish 4-year degree programs. He has worked with students in his band, supported school attendance initiatives, and has kept students and staff safe from problems or issues related to neighborhood violence.
Engagement with Ronald May and other School Resource Officers is so much more than what I have spoken to in this letter. I would urge Richmond Public Schools continue to enlist their support.
Pamela Sanders To Whom It May Concern: My name is Pamela Sanders and I am writing to discuss personally how Officer Ronald May has been a great asset to my family. I have two children who graduated from Richmond Public Schools. Even though my children attended a school he did not service; Officer May was still able to impact their lives through the Richmond Police Athletic League. One of my children participated in a PALS sports team and my other child performed with the PALS band. They both were able to learn more about teamwork and community service at young ages. Being around positive and encouraging police officers had a lasting impact on my children and shaped how they interact with police today. Officer May made an effort to attend important events in my children’s’ lives and still periodically checks in with me about how they are managing adulthood. I still admire the passion Officer May displays with his work in schools and in our Richmond community. I can say confidently that removing Officer May from the school environment would be a mistake and a loss for students. I only hope that other police officers are able to look up to Officer May as an example of outstanding community policing. I'd like to begin by saying, I appreciate and respect all opinions. The comments and opinions of the students are very valid, their concern about institution of policing in schools and as one participant noted: “Black and Brown students, we feel like we're seen as criminals before students." These issues are very valid & critical issues and should be addressed, and dealt with, as no student should be made to feel that way or uncomfortable. As, much as it pains me to say, we must not forget that violence and bullying still resides/or exist among our student in our schooling systems nationwide and unfortunately here at RPS. As, a parent of five daughters and one son, who are products of RPS, my husband and I , could always rest knowing that Resources Officers, were in RPS(Richmond Public S. Many times it has been mentioned, how greatly they are respect and the opportunity, to get know them, and the contribution they have made, like in the persons of Officer May, whom not only mentored but, spent quality time with our kids and for that my husband and I, are truly grateful.
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I as a parent realize that the safety of our Future, meaning the RPS students, are our responsibility as a Society! IT REALLY DOES TAKE A COMMUNITY TO RAISE KIDS!!!! Shannon Johnson
Greetings,
I am writing in support of our on campus officers housed within many Richmond Public Schools. I understand that RPS is in midst of making changes to support our countries new culture. I truly commend RPS for the ongoing innovative changes occurring during this unprecedented time. However, I do believe that the services are needed. There have been many instances within the system where had it not been for the in- house RPS officer, things within some buildings could have turned extremely dangerous for both students and staff.
I might suggest: That we train our officers in the manner we want their services to be reflected within the RPS system. Create guidelines and policies reflecting RPS’s new culture (where all lives matter) Have students work with officers, ride in cars and listen to reports over the radio. Offer officer training and opportunities to become students of the police academy for our high school graduates. Create an officer/ student mentoring or acquaintance program Introduce former RPS students (who graduated from Richmond city officer academy) to students inquiring about becoming officers.
The aforementioned suggestions would be in an attempt to familiarize students and families with RPS police, and create a culture of embracing good police versus one of hostility and feelings of threat from good police officers. SGT Stacy Rogers So over the past thirty years in law enforcement active shooters in schools has exploded. I believe we are the single greatest deterrent to an active shooter and if one occurs the SRO in the building is in the best position to stop the killing and get people the help they need.
One of the things I know will be lost without an SRO program are the threat assessments in the field. When I get a call at 1130 PM (Which I have got) about a group of parents that have called the school because in a group chat a student has made a threat to bring a gun to school and to be the next school shooter. I climb out of bed and get on the phone. I’m calling Tovar, I’m calling Angela Jones, I’m calling my SRO from that school. I’m then getting in my car and I’m driving to the child’s house, I’m knocking on the door, I’m talking to his parents, I’m talking to the child and we are doing a threat assessment right there. At the same time, I’m moving resources to that school even when it’s not a school we typically man. We work with the School, we have the child come to school that day with a parent at a particular time (before or after the bus arrives). We make sure nothing happens and
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people feel safe sending their kids to school. When that group of parents arrives with their child the next morning fearful of what might happen at school, seeing all of the extra pre-cautions there makes them feel better. This exact scenario happens multiple times a year.
If we lose our SRO program this would fall back on the Precinct and what we call patrol. Patrol handles 911 calls as they come in and as soon as they are done with one call they are on to the next call. They just don’t have the manpower and the “gift” of time we have nor the specialized training to do this job. What is something is missed and a threat goes uninvestigated and something happens? I hope to never find out.
SGT Stacy Rogers also submitted a short biography of each SRO and I’ll work with SB leadership to provide a copy of these biographies.
Richmond Public Schools | 301 North 9th Street | Richmond, VA | www.rvaschools.net Denay Harris
Good evening,
I am the mom of children who attend RPS. I am 100% on board with keeping SRO’s if they get the training needed and this isn’t just for the SRO’s that are employed by RPD. I have seen officers allow students to come into school knowing they have drugs or weapons on them. I have seen side doors opened for students who don’t attend the school by SRO’s. I have also seen SRO’s who go above and beyond for students, i have seen some come in with book bags for students in need. I have had SRO’s come to my house to check on my RPS students. I have had some walk my children home when they were scared. I feel that they need more training to handle our children and not treat them like criminals. I think they can be an asset for many safety reason but they need the training. I also think more SRO’s are needed you can’t have a school of 500 with 1 officer and think that makes a difference. It’s so many pros and cons to this but i don’t think removing them will be for the better.
My name is Arlene Passalacqua and I have been teaching at Boushall Middle School for 30 years, of which I have also assisted as a Spanish translations for parents in the main office. This puts me in a position where I have firsthand accounts of the effectiveness of our School resource officers, not only in the classroom and on campus but also at the main office. When the resource officers were introduced to RPS approximately 20 years ago, I saw resistance and concerns coming from the staff and administration but by the time the 1st semester had passed, those worries had disappeared, as our SRO became an effective and essential part of our Boushall family. Instead of giving you generalities I will give you specific situations that I observed throughout the years. · When the program was first introduced, our SRO gave classes to our students about Virginia law and other topics. The children would asked him questions about, sexual harassment, gangs, creepy adults, why people get arrested for specific situations among others. Not only were they able to get their answers they also knew that the SRO was readily available throughout the year to answer future concerns. I observed how the students came to trust and comfy in him and see law enforcement in a different light. · While translating at the office I observed EVERY YEAR our SRO on numerous occasions, tactfully de escalate and or deter irate parents wanting to commit bodily harm on a teacher or administrator. Although we have school security officers, there is something about having the power of arrest that makes the SRO more effective to quickly deal with a violent parent. · A few years ago while we had a code red lockdown in the height of the school shooting scare, I huddled the children into a corner of the room and as I turned off the lights I heard one student starting to cry, and another student said “Don’t worry, if it is a shooter, Officer Foster has a gun and he’ll cap him one and protect us” At that moment I thought about how more in danger would these children be without an armed SRO in our building. · Because of the positive rapport that our SRO has developed with our students, they constantly learn about issues in our student’s life that are able to be dealt with before a tragedy occurs. · Many of our SRO became coaches and mentors to our children. · There was never a day I saw any child cringe in fear due to the presence of the SRO, on the contrary, I always saw trust, respect and a feeling of security. Our SRO’s have helped diffuse situations, worked with our students and their families, including our Hispanic community to deal with social and legal needs and closing the gap between the community and law enforcement. Personally I believe that a school without an armed resource officer becomes an easy target for a school shooter, Not having an SRO in our schools will only widen the divide between our at-risk students and law enforcement Please do not jump to make a decision this important without polling the students and their families. Please prove to us that security is your priority.
Sharon Stine
Please don't take our SRO out of the building. They are more than just the police. they are a positive for the students. They allow students to see the police as someone who helps them not shoots them like it is portrayed on the TV. They talk to the students and can help with finding the students who are missing or information that is needed. The students feel comfortable talking to them. I work in the office and I am very comfortable working there knowing I have police if need be. I worked for a year at MLK. Parents coming threatening the teachers,students and administration. It was enough sometimes for the police just to be in the area to calm down parents. Just the other day someone was having a problem their statement was " I wish Officer was here he could tell us how to handle it." This is how many of us feel and I believe a lot of the students feel the same way. They may not say it but Office gives them a feeling of safety so they can talk about problems. This would not be the case if we call for the police and someone the student does not know shows up. That would end the conversation. With our SRO they do not feel threatened.
Janice Ragan, CTE teacher, Huguenot HS
I respect Officer Ruffin highly. His attitude and disposition is one of humbleness and humility. He has never exhibited arrogance because of the badge he wears. I've watched his rapport with the students, the respect shared for him, and vice versa. The students understand the reasoning why Officer Ruffin has been placed in Huguenot High school. They know he's been placed there to help with safety, but most of all to build relationships within the community where they attend school and live.
Officer Ruffin isn't just a law enforcement officer with Richmond City Police Department in Huguenot, he's also a tremendous mentor who has started a great community based fitness program for both male and female students of the school; which he has so graciously opened up to any staff member wanting to participate.
It's baffling to me how some feel as though law enforcement officers are not needed in the schools of RPS; which is far from the truth. I appreciate having one of RPD's finest walking the halls of Huguenot High school, visiting classrooms, and socializing with the staff and students.
Removing Officer Ruffin from Huguenot would saddened the hearts of every student who attends Huguenot as well as the faculty and staff. He has built a great relationship with the staff and students of Huguenot High School. I’d like to reiterate my support of having a School Resource Officer, with an addendum of some ideas on how we can reimagine their roles. These were my initial comments:
Good evening, my name is Barbara Haas, I’m the librarian at T. C. Boushall Middle School and a resident of the third district in this beautiful city. I’d like to speak to having School Resource Officers (SROs) in our schools. This has been a heartbreaking time in our city, in our country. But painting a wide brush on the issue is not helpful. Our SRO is the opposite of some of what we’re seeing across the country right now. He is an example of what is possible when you don’t “defund” police, but “reimagine” police. He is an integral part of our school culture and climate. His caring attitude and calm demeanor has de-escalated many a situation. His office is in the library, so I have a front row seat to how he conducts “business” in our building. There isn’t a day that goes by that our, what Rodney Robinson would call “at-potential” students, come by to say hello, calm down, get a snack, ask for advice, talk sports, get a hug and other such activities. He is a fixture in the classroom, reading, listening, discussing. Like all policing SHOULD be, it’s not about punitive actions, it’s about relationships. When Officer Foster is needed at our school, students don’t freak out, they calm down. Our students know that he cares about them.
And it’s not just our “at-potential” students either. There was an incident where one of our scholars witnessed a shooting on her way to the bus stop. I don’t know what we would have done if Officer Foster hadn’t have been there when she got to school. She had never had an interaction with him before that, but he was able to talk to her and help her to calm down. Without him, I don’t think she would have been able to get on a bus again.
I totally get why, if you don’t know your SRO, you might want to kick them out of our schools. But I’m asking you to reconsider. Get to know the SROs that are in the buildings. I can’t speak for all of them, but I know that my job gets much harder if Officer Foster isn’t in my building every day. Maybe he should give some trainings on how to be a police officer in 2020!!!! I’m going to include two pictures (please share with the board!!!) that are examples of how amazing Officer Foster is!!! One is of him interacting with a family during food distribution, and one is of him reading the assigned book in a 7th grade classroom. HE READ EVERY BOOK THAT THAT CLASS READ, AND SEVERAL OTHERS THAT OTHER GRADES WERE READING!!!!!! I didn’t even do that, and I’m the librarian!!!!!
Please think hard about the role of an SRO in our schools. They aren’t just the ‘police’, they are family members!! Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water, maybe it’s not a good fit in your building, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not a good role for our schools!!! Thank you for your time!!!
Here are some suggestions on how we can restructure the role of our School Resource Officers:
* No uniforms. Have SROs wear tee shirts instead of uniforms. * No guns. Guns can be triggers (I’ve learned A LOT about triggers from another valuable member of our TCB family, Angel Reynolds!!!!!) * Put your SRO on the Leadership Committee * Have SROs lead programs such as breakfast groups, one on one mentoring, workshops on resume writing, interview practice and de-escalation strategies * Train all SROs in Restorative Justice, have them lead circles
And if you really want a culture that is warm and welcoming to all of our students, get rid of metal detectors. Nothing is more heartbreaking than watching a tiny 6th grader get wanded. Or your scholastic standout. Or the toughest 8th grader with a bad attitude. No student should ever be told to spread their arms and legs so that they can wave that @#$% wand over them. Ever. Especially in middle school. Whatever else is going on in their lives, they are still just kids. And just for the record, the SRO isn’t the one who does that.
I understand how complicated this issue is, I really, really do. But I’m urging you to look at this issue from every angle. I would argue that the SRO IS a mental health professional. I will leave you with one more thing to consider. As we are all interested in stopping the school to prison pipeline, there is no one better positioned to block it than your SRO. Because of the relationship that the SRO has with students, they can oftentimes turn what would be a situation that leads to arrest by someone who doesn’t know the student, into a situation that can be dealt with internally. Please do not take this important family member from our school. Thank you for your time.
Kendria Brown, English Teacher, Boushall
Greetings. I am sending this email in response to the discussion regarding the roles of police in RPS schools. As an employee with the district for four years, I am in favor of retaining the Student Resource Officer (SRO) position in schools. I feel that SRO's not only ensure the safety of both students and staff, but they also work well beyond their expectations, building positive relationships with students in many ways. For example, I once recall our school's current SRO, Officer Foster, participating in a grade level discussion and forum focusing on police and community relations mentioned in the 8th grade class novel, The Hate U Give. Officer Foster not only read the chapters as they were assigned to students- he also provided excellent, relevant feedback to students' questions during the forum discussion. The students were excited to be able to participate in these discussions, and saw Officer Foster in a different light that day. This affected the overall relationship between Officer Foster and the students, and many students, especially our male students, often relied on him for support with both academic and other issues that they faced.
Though I understand the concerns that some have with SRO's being in the building, I feel that they are greatly needed to ensure that all students are able to learn in a safe and productive environment, which is every student's right. Additionally, I feel that many students have established positive relationships with the SRO's in our schools, which have had a positive impact on their behavior and outlook on life, particularly since many of these officers serve as positive role models for many of our students, particularly our male students. Therefore, I strongly feel that students and staff benefit greatly from having SRO staff members in schools.
Anna Proctor, English Teacher, Boushall
I’m emailing you my feedback about SROs in RPS’ schools, and I’m a 6th grade English teacher at Boushall Middle School. SROs have been an incredibly important part of RPS’s school environments. They have built relationships with students and helped the school environment to run smoothly while positively impacting students and the community! I have never seen an SRO treat a student poorly, and instead I have seen Officer Foster at Boushall be an example of kindness to students. Officer Foster has built incredible relationships with the students at Boushall, has been an asset to the school and community, and has helped Boushall be a safe and welcoming environment for all students. I have never seen Officer Foster act in any way other than professionally towards students and staff. I believe it would be a big mistake to take away SROs from Richmond Public Schools and would be detrimental for students, the school, and the community.
Joe Pisani, Principal, George Wythe
I would like to offer some new eyes wisdom, as a new principal to RPS, but one that has 16 years of principal experience; SROs are a valuable asset to the school and community. SROs do not engage in policing like a patrol officer, they instead build a sense of community and powerful relationships that not only keep the students and staff safe, but the community as well. They are able to gather sensitive information that may be occurring with our students and families and are able to share that with us so we are proactive rather than reactive. Their efforts prevent events from happening at school because they give us a valuable gift of time. Time to plan and time to act for the best interests of the students. They help to shape a positive school environment. Students and staff feel safe knowing that the SROs are present in the building and are available to help.
The SROs are more than police officers, they are building leaders and support the mission and vision of the school. Often it is the SRO, who has a relationship with a student, offering positive reinforcement and walking the student to class; because they know that it is in the student's best interest. Their skills at de-escalation are essential when we have students acting out of emotion versus logic. They will often meet with the students to mediate and resolve the issue rather than make it an official police matter. These are highly trained and dedicated officers who want to see teenagers be successful and work each day for that to happen. My recommendation is that the SROs remain in the schools and continue to do the great work supporting our students and staff.
Thank you. Cynthia Sweet
I am a teacher at RAS and I would like to express my desire to continue the use of Richmond Police Officers in our schools. Our security officer is an integral part of my students feeling of safety. Many come from neighborhoods in which they feel anxiety just walking to the corner store. With Officer Mayo and other security staff in the building students can relax and focus on learning. With the tension in our nation between police and citizens of color, officer Mayo builds trust that officers are not punitive but protective. Getting to know them personally builds trust out in the community as well.
Rob Gilstrap, Principal, Huguenot HS Good evening members of the school board and Superintendent Kamras,
It is with reservation that I write this email. I write with reservation because what I am asking will surely bring sadness and frustration to some of the people of this wonderful community. In consideration of the Superintendent's proposal to remove SRO's from all RPS campuses, I must adamitely request that the school board reject this proposal. Even though I support Mr. Kamras in almost every other area, I can not agree that Huguenot would be a better school without Officer Willie Ruffin and Officer Kenia Marte Santana. It is true that at times students make choices that cause them to be in opposition to the laws of Richmond, Virginia, and even the United States of America. However, when this does happen and the student and parent are required to engage with our SRO's, I see nothing but respect, patience, and love when dealing with these sensitive circumstances. I must stress that this is a small part of the role and time that our SRO's spend with students. Students at HHS seem to be happy to talk with our SRO's. Many times I am forced to remind the students that they need to be moving on to their classes. Every initiative that our SRO's lead are our most attended. Our SRO's are role models for the students in our building. Officer Santana was once a Falcon herself. It was her desire to come back to Huguenot to serve our hispanic students alongside the teachers and administrators that served her years before.
I am keenly aware of the horrible treatment that some officers have directed at black and hispanic people throughout history across this state and country. Those officers should lose the honor of serving their community. However, not All Cops are Bad. Some are the best people of our society. Some are truly here to protect and serve. I have not received a complaint against our SRO's in my time as the Principal of Huguenot High. I have spent the last 5 years working closely with Officer Ruffin. I know him well. He is one of the best men I have ever met. To say that Huguenot students would be better off without Officer Ruffin, makes no sense if you believe in Leading, Teaching, and Reopening with Love. Reform in law enforcement needs to happen in many places but not within Huguenot. Our officers are the model for what you want to surround our students. I respect the opinions of our students and was moved as well by their words, however; I believe they were describing behaviors that they have seen in SSO's not our partnership with RPD. If you are looking for a place to make meaningful reform, start there or continue with the great mission for restorative practices as well as creating a more culturally aware community.
Tammy Rucker Hello in response to RPD Officer Mayo Officer Mayo is an outstanding, respectful, hardworking, Police Officer. He is a team player that helps support the building staff and children that attend the alternative school. He frequently interact with our children positively in reference to their future endeavors when becoming an adult themselves. He allowed the kids to see him as a person not just an officer. He always lends his hand to help someone if in need of help. I believe Officer Mayo is a valuable portion that is needed in our building community,(family). Please re-think removing the officers out of our schools for they are desperately need
Theresa Thweatt – Teacher, Boushall This letter is in support of Officer Foster as a School Resource Officer at Boushall Middle School. Officer Foster is an integral part of our school climate and culture and his absence from our our school environment would be detrimental to our safety and our students' success. Our students have built relationships with Officer Foster of trust and and reliance. If we are to continue to reach and teach our students with love, Officer Foster is a necessary component of the Boushall Middle School staff. Anne Smedley – Teacher – John Marshall
School Resource Officer Burton at JMHS is the gold standard for resource officers. If RPS chooses to keep SRO's, I would encourage them to have Officer Burton serve on the hiring committee and in the training process. I have 5 stories to share that speak to his character. 1. He (along with our amazing Coach Cherry) coaches our girls' basketball team with such gentle guidance and encouragement. He is also active in the PAL program. He has a heart for children, and the kids love him in return. He encourages them to make good choices; he never uses intimidation tactics.
2. One of our beloved team was battling breast cancer last year, and many of us wore pink tutu's to support her. Officer Burton donned a pink tutu to show support, because that's what real men do. He does not subscribe to the false ideologies of toxic masculinity.
3. Officer Burton protects our students from outside forces. I have only seen Officer Burton upset one time. He tried to reason with a parent who was not only encouraging their child to assault other children but driving them to their peers' various places of employment to attack them while on the job. When the parent made it clear that they would continue to behave in this manner, he issued a bench warrant mandating that this parent speak with a judge about their actions. He could not comprehend how someone was willing to endanger their own child as well as other children, and he immediately took action to protect them.
4. Officer Burton acts as a liaison/ advocate for our school and the RPD. One of our former teachers was returning late one evening to the Northside neighborhood with students in the car. She was pulled over, and she and the children were a little nervous about the interaction. The officer asked the nature of their business, and she explained that she was taking some of her students home after a school event. The RPD officer asked the teacher her name, the school name, and the name of our school SRO. He called Officer Burton, and he verified the teacher and the events of the evening and asked his colleague to let them safely be on their way home. And so it was.
5. When our girls' basketball team played the Deep Run girls' team, our girls experienced vile slurs and physical aggression from the DR team. This could be a whole separate issue to discuss too. Judging from the Henrico County Public Schools BIPOC Advocacy Instagram account, this behavior is endemic to their team and perhaps school culture. One of our girls was called the n-word by a Deep Run player, and her mother was at the game to cheer on her daughter and the team. Of course, this greatly upset her mother. Officer Burton shielded the opposing player's identity to protect the upset mother from her impulses and to protect the players- on both sides. He wanted to follow the proper protocol and maintain our district and school's reputation in maintaining peace. Deep Run went low, and the JMHS coaches went high. But, Mr. Kamras, perhaps you want to revisit the events of this game and discuss them with Henrico superintendent.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sherry Connaster, Teacher, Cardinal Elementary I believe if we train officers to develop a positive relationship with students we strengthen community ties and help our youth to TRUST them to protect and serve. Taking them out of the schools causes more divide which we just don't need right now. My vote is to keep them in the schools and work on training them to establish a feeling of school safety through positive connections, education, and fostering respectful character traits.
Luna Cameron
Greetings!
I am so happy to know that RPS is strongly considering removing the SROs from schools. Here is some information that I believe is extremely important to be taken into consideration in making this decision.
• In 2015, Virginia Schools ranked #1 in sending students to cops and courts (source: Center for Public Integrity) • The relationship between RPS and RPD is a key player in the VA school-to-prison pipeline. • During 2018-2019, Black students made up 66.1% of the total student population, but made up 92.9% of long-term suspensions and 100% of expulsions. • DIVEST the $4 million that RPS spends on school security & policing. • INVEST this money into mental health supports, restorative justice programs, community supports. Students and families often do not know how to cope with the traumas of their everyday lives, give them the resources to cultivate their own success. Rewarding positive behavior and enveloping children and families with a community of support is more effective than punishing a trauma response. • CHANGE the Student Code of Responsible Ethics to ensure that meaningful interventions are practiced as opposed to suspension and expulsion. Help students heal and learn and grow. Punishing a student or REVOKING THEIR ACCESS TO EDUCATION for behavior doesn't empower a student to succeed.
Please consider ways that the Richmond community and RPS staff can come together to coordinate support for students to promote healing over punishment.
Jason Macgruder
This past year, one of our students lost their siblings to gun violence. Our SRO was one of the first people to hug and console her when she returned to school. Our SRO is a mother, mentor, teacher, coach and friend. She is there to protect our students, not harm or intimidate them. A few years ago, there was a national outcry to place police officers in schools to protect students, but here in Richmond, some are ready to kick them to the curb. The belief that there are no outside threats to our schools is something we should not gamble with. Although isolated, Richmond is not immune to school shootings. In 1998, two adults were wounded during a shooting inside Armstrong High School. With the abundance of calls RPD receives on a daily basis, removing the first line of defense against outside threats, may place the closest police officer many miles and many minutes away. The notion that police officers are ill-equipped to work with children and are patrolling our schools is absurd. Many police officers are parents and college-educated. They have invaluable experience working with community members and handling mental health crisis that an educator can only hope to learn from reading a book or attending a workshop. Our SRO is not patrolling the hallways of our school. She is the last resort when school resources have been exhausted. She spends her days loving on our students and building relationships. Our SRO has zero input on classroom management, discipline and suspension. She steps in only when requested by the school or by law to advocate for a victim. A few years ago, an active shooter call went out on our campus. Our SRO ran towards the potential threat while everyone else locked our doors and hid. Thankfully, the call was a hoax; but that incident reassured that our SRO would lay her life down to protect our students. Removing SRO’s from our schools will burn a bridge between the youth and the police in a city that desperately needs a relationship. Blaming the police for our problems is not the answer. I hope the decision regarding the relationship between RPS and RPD will be based on common sense, logic and safety, not for a political statement or because it is trendy on social media. I do not need our SRO there for me, I need her there for my students. I am a former police officer and current RPS teacher. Keep SROs in our schools.
Mary Anne Cisne
Please, PLEASE, continue the School Resource Officer program in Richmond City Public Schools. These people are well-trained and as a middle school counselor I found them to be valuable to students, families, and staff members. They are assessable, approachable assets to preventing school to prison pipeline.
Thinking you can find competent “mental health professionals” to replace the SRO program is ludicrous! Mental health professionals will, I predict, not have skills to help students, families and staff members with the needs you anticipate. RPS will make an enormous mistake if you THINK you can.
Southern Poverty Law Center has a program, Teaching Tolerance, is a resource that all school personnel can obtain for the asking. It is a well-researched preventative if utilized.
Maryjo Cavis, Nurse, Huguenot
Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to inform you that Richmond City Police Officer W. Ruffin continues to be a positive, compassionate role model in our school. In my interactions with Officer Ruffin, as School Nurse. I have seen Officer Ruffin in all kinds of situations. His calming, positive reassurance has been and continues to be beneficial to the students and staff at Huguenot High School. It is important for staff and students to feel safe and secure in these challenging times. Officer Ruffin does this with his calm, caring presence. He remains an important part of the Huguenot High School staff. Thank you for this opportunity.
Good evening, My name is Ana Estrada, Assistant Principal at River City Middle School. I am writing this email in support of keeping the School Resource Officers (SROs) in Richmond Public Schools. My two years as Academic Dean at Elkhardt Thompson Middle School, Officer Norwood was an integral part of the ETMS community. Students and staff have grown to rely on her for support and guidance. She is not only an SRO, she is an educator, mentor and colleague in the building. Working alongside Admin she has been an instrumental part in resolving conflicts between students and parents. She has coached/mentored young men who play sports ( The school's flag football & lacrosse team). Working with the health teachers, she educates students on Virginia laws. She is part of the fabric of the school! Removing SRO's, like Officer Norwood, would be a great detriment to the Climate and Culture of Schools.
Thank you for your time and for considering this comment
Patrick Cheatham, Assistant Principal, John Marshall
Greetings Richmond School Board members,
I felt it extremely worthy of my time to speak on behalf of those who support keeping the SRO's in our schools. I speak from the perspective of someone who has been the Dean of Students at Armstrong High School, an Assistant Principal at John Marshall and a career long RPS servant leader.
First let me start by saying as a black man and father, I am all too familiar with what is going on in society with regards to racial inequality and police misconduct. It sickens me when I see my people continue to be mistreated and killed because of the color of our skin. But I am not so emotional that it has caused me to lose focus of what is a problem and what is not. I have had the pleasure of serving alongside several SRO's and they are truly not the problem.
This call to remove SRO's comes during a time of public outcry in our communities. Is this the first time we've had public outcry? Imagine making this decision after unfortunate events like Sandy Hook, Columbine or any number of school attacks. The reality is SRO's keep our students and staff safe. I feel safe everyday knowing I have personnel and protocols in place should any unfortunate scenarios take place. To me this is a simple case of weighing the good and the bad or risk versus reward. I have not experienced or been made aware of any negatives that come from having our SRO's in the building. They are a part of our school families, they mentor, they build relationships, they coach. I honestly don't even want to think about all the bad that would happen or get worse if they are removed. They have the ability to settle situations before they explode, collaborate with outside authorities who lack the training, temperament and relationships to deal with our students. and they provide a deterrent to those who would seek to turn schools into targets.
In closing, I ask that you not be blinded to the perils of society and put our schools in danger by removing vital members of our family. Officer May, Officer Harris, Officer Burton, and many others have served RPS well in the past and luckily we will never know the extent of the good they have done by keeping bad things from even occurring simply with their presence. I pray we never have to ask the question of would this have happened if the SRO's were in the building. Thank you and God bless.
I am Monica Glass Murray, a proud Richmond Public School’s Graduate, a 23-year employee of Richmond Public Schools and current Principal of John Marshal High School. I have been around long enough to see many changes, some that have allowed RPS to shine, and some that make me cringe. This discussion is one that makes me cringe. What are we really asking? Are we really asking students to begin policing themselves? Are we really saying to the black and brown SROs that you are the bad ones that we no longer want in our schools? Are we make a decision off of in-the-moment, raw emotions?
As a leader, I start every meeting with my staff being very transparent, I say to them, here is what I know. Here is what I know and what I have witnessed over the years. The RPS SRO unit is made up of 16 officers. 2 Sergeants, 1 Captian, 1 Lieutenant, and 12 Officers. 100% of the Officers are black and brown! 100% of the boots on the ground are black and brown. 100% of the men and women who come to work every day to protect our children and black and brown. In every organization, there are those who are great at their job and those who shouldn’t be able to hold the position. We have a system to evaluate teachers, don’t we? So why are we saying that all cops are bad and they all need to go? 100% of these highly trained officers are black and brown police offers, who have earned the right to do this work. They come in every day with one job, to protect our students and faculty. We talk about equity. As a district, we are already underfunded. Why would we take another resource out of the buildings without a plan?
I have witnessed and been in the middle of students who run to danger due to the sensationalism of fights and violence. I have witnessed a fight that turned into a teenage dangling out of 2nd story window, covered in glass and the only person who saved his life, did so by putting his life in jeopardy. That security specialist left covered in blood was out of work for a year and in debt from the medical bills. Just this year a parent came on campus at dismissal, participated in a student on student attack and then stabbed a male student who attempted to stop her. It was the SRO on campus who handled that! So what are we really asking?
As educators, we are bound by a sacred trust to safeguard the well-being, safety, and extraordinary potential of the children and youth within the communities we serve. In order to fulfill this trust, it is incumbent upon us to abolish the use of unnecessary school discipline practices that could deny students the opportunity to mature into capable, healthy, and responsible adults. We should also work with intention to build credible and sustainable systems, structures, and partnerships that provide safe, supportive learning environments that lift up students and nurture them when they do well and when they make mistakes. School staff and administrators should be well trained to address behavioral issues through a variety of corrective, non-punitive interventions, including restorative justice programs and mental health supports. I would hope that we can all agree that it takes a comprehensive team and approach to ensure the social, emotional, mental and physical well-being of a student. This is heavy work and not something that one professional or one industry can tackle on their own. Our schools know that it takes counselors, psychologists, student wellness facilitators, teachers, administrators, school support staff, SROs, collaborations with outside agencies, and a school full of caring and trusting adults to look after our children’s well-being.
Rasheen Murray Hello, Officer Mayo is a strong anchor at the school. He provides a secondary layer of safety support in the school as well as outside the school. Officer Mayo's rapport with the students and parents keeps many of our students on track when they are outside of the brick and mortar of the school. He is "Vital" to our continued success.
Rodney Hawkins
He’s an asset and a very positive worker (in reference to Officer Mayo)
Hello, my name is Nichole Mines. I am a Behavior Specialist at Spartan Academy. I have worked alongside officer Mayo for two years securing our building and maintaining a peaceful learning environment. He has become a part of the Spartan family. His positive and consistent support in the building has contributed to the overall safe atmosphere for both the students as well as the staff. He has been a true asset and a joy to work with.
To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Ms. Waller, principal of Boushall Middle School. I am writing to show my support for Officer Foster and the SRO program. Officer Foster has been an amazing part of our school. He has not only deescalated tense situations with his firm, calm presence but he also actively seeks to break the stigma about the police daily with his positive interactions. He reads books assigned in our school, participates in class discussions, attends school and community functions , and actively works to build relationships with everyone. He is not seen only as an SRO but also as a resource, coach, and role model.
As a school that is implementing practices centered around restorative justice, Officer Foster has been a huge proponent. He has participated in circles and mindfulness moments to model with students how to build connections, address conflict, and heal harm. While he is trained to handle the most dangerous situations, he also uses these moments to show that while you can choose to be unkind it is better, and often less harmful to yourself and others, to choose otherwise. I have firsthand seen how the relationships that Officer Foster has built with scholars can make a difference.
The top priority of schools is to provide a safe environment conducive for learning. He and many SROs do just that.
For example, this has meant escorting trespassers with the intent to steal or vandalize, sometimes during the school day, off school property.
This has meant removing adults from the main office that have triggered the child offender alert or have been pre-identified as a threat by an employee but refuses to leave.
This has meant addressing vehicles that enter our campus speeding, ignoring the buses signals, or engaging in other recklessness behavior, especially during arrival and dismissal.
This has meant alerting school administration of crimes or other potentially dangerous incidents happening nearby in real-time which allows schools to react appropriately and quickly to keep everyone safe.
This has meant educating parents on how to address issues outside of formal charges or what charges could mean for all students involved in incidents.
This has meant quickly reporting to and investigating information about potential degenerates seeking to prey on and lure scholars at neighborhood bus stops from students and community members.
These are not fabricated events but real-life situations that have to be addressed quickly so that we can focus on educating our scholars. Many of these situations can not be adequately addressed with just school staff. Officer Foster is onsite and available. The minutes that would be used to call a police unit to or near the school is valuable time. He knows our building, crisis plan, and community. Furthermore, he is trained to be in schools and interact with staff, SSOs , and students. When the police are needed, many would rather have a trained SROs respond than a unit that happens to be nearby with little to no understanding or experience with adolescences or the interworkings of a school.
Safe and loving school cultures start by having safe schools. Please allow SROs to continue to serve.
Deonta Gail, Dean of Students, John Marshall
We need our SRO's. I say that because of the relationships that they have and build with our students. Our SRO at JM is more than just RPD in the building. He's a mentor and coach to our students. To lose him will be a big loss for the staff and most importantly our students. Also, I believe taking SRO's out of our schools will remove mentors & coaches but I believe it will take away the first hand experiences and positive interactions with police officers that our students have. I know the negative is what's being magnified but I truly believe the positive interactions happen more often than the negative interactions. So I wish that you vote to keep the SRO's in our schools because they are a part of our school community just like the students and other staff members.
Mariah Monk School Resource Officers are there to protect everyone and they fulfill that role mainly by addressing intruders in the school, adults who violate children, and diffusing chaos without negative action. For that, I am thankful. There have been several intruders at Boushall Middle School, both adults and children. For example, a parent entered into our school to fight a student. As a teacher, I felt safe knowing our SRO was there and I watched him approach the intruder instantly. Outside of protecting students and staff, our SRO has formed strong relationships with students who have experienced trauma and built a positive relationship with students that often view police as the enemy. Students that have gone on to high school still have a positive relationship with our SRO and that’s commendable. Parents have preferred to speak with our SRO instead of principals and SSOs because of his diligence and attentiveness to students. Needless to say, it is more than beneficial to have an SRO who was born and raised in the city who fulfills such a great role in our school. The students relate to him, talk to him, confide in him, and even find peace in knowing he’s around more so than the SSOs in our school. He stands to welcome our students every morning and they often shake his hand before going to class. He even takes it upon himself to read books that the students are reading and join in on classroom discussions. The students love that! Most importantly, he leads with love just as the teachers are expected to. I have seen him mentor students and help their behavior improve.
Joy Kraynak
Hello,
I work at Richmond Alternative School where I believe our school resource officer is a positive influence and very necessary to our school. Officer Mayo is a positive role model for our students and he assists in conflict resolution in ways that others would be unable to do. Anyone who has spent any time in our building would be able to see that he has built relationships with our students and that the students benefit from this relationship
Additionally, I have worked in 4 different school buildings during my 17 year teaching career and during that time I have witnessed many altercations that were so violent that they could have very easily ended in tragedy. I believe SROs contribute to the physical safety of our students and staff.
Of course peaceful conflict resolution through counseling is preferred but it is not always possible. Things sometimes escalate very quickly to violence and when that happens we all deserve the layer of protection an SRO provides.
Thank -you for considering this feedback
Windell Roquemore
Over the past few years, Offer Mayo has assisted in providing a safe environment for the ISAEP-GED students at Richmond Alternative School and all students and visitors each day. His friendly and quiet confidence adds a sense of calm to students and the staff as well. I look forward to speaking to Mr. Mayo each day and sharing any concerns I might have about our students' safety. He is a welcome addition to our staff, and he plays a vital role in the overall security of Richmond Alternative School.
Hello, My name is Principal Lamont Trotter. I want to express the importance of our SRO Officer Mayo. Over the past two years, Officer Mayo continues to be a great support system for our students in various ways such as:
* Taking students home when Vango has not been arranged * Being aware of our RAS parents who enter the building and their concerns as well as addressing matters privately. * Continuing to develop relationships with our staff, students, and families.
SRO's play a vital role in the day to day operations keeping school administration abreast of community matters, being visible throughout the school day, and providing support to students, staff, and parents when needed. Officer Mayo is one I have no doubt takes the initiative in the above actions.
During morning arrivals you will see Officer Mayo engaging with students, signing, and giving positive affirmations as our students come in something our students look forward to daily.
RAS students come from all areas of the district Officer Mayo additionally discusses our school norms and expectations with new students during orientation sessions. Whenever students are heightened due to personal matters Officer Mayo often times deescalates our students by finding a common interest and building upon that which grounds the students who then return back to class once they have recognized how they could have better handled the matter.
Finally, CNN featured our very own RPS (RPD) SRO a few months ago for singing which went viral with more than 1 million likes. It's this type of attitude our students, families, and parents need to see that encourages our school community. Officer Mayo is an asset and brings something special to our campus.
My name is Dr. Patricia Aldridge, Assistant Principal at Thomas C. Boushall Middle School. I am submitting this recommendation to continue the services of SROs in Richmond Public Schools. On a personal note, I can scrupulously say that Officer Kenneth Foster’s presence has been a deterrent to crime at Boushall and his presence contributes to community bonding. Students have been afforded the opportunity to see police in a positive light, despite the unsettling actions of a few disreputable police officers, who have been highlighted in the media. Having SROs in our public schools supports students in having positive relationships with police in society. I have noticed such bonding with families and students, which has lessened crime in their neighborhoods. In light of the difficulties with adolescents, it is essential that they have access to effective authoritarian positive role models. In my research as a Special Education Professor, I am an advocate for increasing the presence of law enforcement in urban schools. This current practice needs to be continued. The authority figure in the environment contributes to a stable climate, character development, respect for authority to develop into law abiding citizens. I have witnessed the SRO serve as a liaison between all interties. My hope is that we can continue to foster positive relationships with the police and this is a microcosm of the larger society.
As an educator, mother and a grandmother, I see the need for the safeguarding of the students and faculty. According to research, in the past decade, there has been an uptick in the number of school shootings, gang related deaths, threats, rapes and drug usage, all of which, teachers are woefully unprepared to handle. Also, through decades of study, it has been found that adolescents are vulnerable and require adult supervision in handling conflict resolution. While teachers support students with difficult behaviors, the SRO is uniquely trained to defuse, deescalate, and even prevent conflict on campus. SROs establish a certain order of protocol for acceptable campus behavior. They are vigilant in security practices. The most priceless commodity in the world is our children.
According to Cohen (2019), studies show that factors behind school shooting include family dysfunction, lack of family supervision, and mental illness among many other psychological issues. Among the topmost motives of attackers were: bullying/persecution/threatened (75%) and revenge (61%), while 54% reported having numerous reasons. The remaining motives included an attempt to solve a problem (34%), suicide or depression (27%), and seeking attention or recognition (24%).
Know too, that according to current research, firearm homicide is the second-leading cause of death (after motor vehicle crashes) for young people ages 1-19 in the U.S. For men 15 to 29, gun homicides are the third-leading cause of death, after accidents and suicides. 2018 was by far the worst year on record for gun violence in schools ... nearly one a day, resulting in 365 killed and 1,301 wounded.
• Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School – Feb. 14, 2018 – 17 victims • Santa Fe High School – May 18, 2018 – 10 victims • two teenagers were killed and over a dozen people were hurt in a shooting at Marshall County High School in Benton, Kentucky. • One month after Parkland, a boy shot two classmates at Great Mills High School in Maryland. • Sandy Hook Elementary School, Connecticut - 20 children and six school administrators • Marysville Pilchuck High School – Oct. 24, 2014 – 4 victims (The 15-year-old shooter who fatally shot four students before killing himself reportedly lured his victims to his lunch table via text before the shooting).
** I would like to assert that the data speaks for itself and the data does not lie!
Although RPS has not made the National News for having a school shooting, the presence of SROs in the schools could be a factor and we are fortunate that we are not listed in the groups above. We have tragically lost students in our communities and as much as that saddens me, I am grateful that we have an opportunity to show staff, students and parents that we can provide safety at school.
I would like to add that though we have not experienced the tragedies mentioned above, I would like to highlight some of the “Glows” for Officer Foster.
• It was alleged that a student had a gun on a school bus and our SRO was instrumental in conducting the investigation. The student was dealing with an issue in his neighborhood and was able to resolve it after meeting with the SRO. • Further, we have had feuding families, who were able to agree to an amicable relationship after meeting with our SRO. • I have also witnessed our SRO show love and support to several of our students, both male and female. Several students have sought out Officer Foster to inform him or seek advice for incidents before they occurred and wanted to avoid getting hurt or trouble. • Officer Foster has visited many classrooms and collaborated on projects with various teachers (photos on Boushall FB/webpage). • Officer Foster read the novel “Hidden Figures” with a 7th grade Science Class. (photo on Boushall FB/website) • Officer Foster has taught a “Being Safe” class to a Special Education Class. • Always on time and at school prior to Administrator/Teacher arrival. • Assisted buses with getting out into heavy traffic. • His presence and demeanor deterred angry parents from being verbally abusive to administrators/teachers. • Restrained students, when necessary and always had a positive outcome. • He also collaborated with the 8th Grade English team by reading the novel, “The Hate You Give” and attended the field trip with the classes and answered questions addressed in reference to avoiding violent behavior. • Officer Foster was intricate in assisting staff with resolving a situation involving two teenagers, who unlawfully trespassed onto school property, with the intent to harm a student.
In closing, I would like to say that based on my 28 years in education as a former, special education teacher, specialist with the VA. Department of Education, college professor and assistant principal, the experiences I have had with SRO Foster and even with substitute SROs, I state publicly that it would be a disservice to our students, parents, faculty and staff to discontinue the presence of SROs in Richmond Public Schools, given the demographics of the students of the students, whom we serve and the conditions of some of the neighborhoods surrounding our schools. The presence of SROs in our schools has led to drug confiscation in our neighborhoods and have saved some students from trafficking drugs in our schools. Unfortunately, I am not able to express all of the benefits of having an SRO in our building using this particular platform; however, I would welcome a verbal conversation to further express my beliefs and research.
For the schools, who do not have reported offenses, it is quite possible that the presence of these officers in the schools, could account for this. If our students do not learn to respect the law in a less threatening environment, then they may possibly be candidates for the school to prison pipeline. Your time and attention are appreciated in this matter.
Jacqueline Murphy, Principal, River City
Officer Norwood has provided an unparalleled service to the students and staff of ETMS. She is really a part of our community. She is a teacher and a coach. Our students are taught the law under her and she has the ability to calm and remain calm in all situations.
She has brought Richmond Police as a partner in celebrating our students. Our building feels safe with her greeting our students and families with a smile and her being proactive. She know our community and has been able to intervene in situations because of her connections. She has been available nights and weekends when we have experienced tragedy in our neighborhoods.
The SRO makes me feel safer at school? (Student perceptions) No SRO Strongly Disagree Disagree Agree Strongly Agree Division 24% 10% 14% 35% 19% Elkhardt 16% 5% 16% 41% 23% Henderson 41% 11% 10% 23% 15% MLK 0% 17% 14% 34% 34% Boushall 6% 15% 21% 41% 17% RAS 8% 11% 19% 44% 17%
How often have you spoken to the SRO during the last year? (Student perceptions) Never 1 or 2 a semester About Weekly Every day. Division 48% 30% 12% 10% Elkhardt 48% 27% 15% 10% Henderson 60% 21% 11% 8% MLK 51% 21% 13% 14% Boushall 53% 33% 9% 5% RAS 55% 24% 12% 9%
The SRO makes me feel safer at school (Staff perceptions) No SRO Strongly Disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Somewhat Agree Agree Strongly Agree Division 21% 6% 5% 8% 24% 21% 16% Elkhardt 6% 4% 2% 6% 21% 31% 29% Henderson 29% 0% 7% 21% 21% 11% 11% MLK 7% 9% 2% 11% 48% 11% 13% Boushall 4% 8% 16% 8% 40% 16% 8% RAS 19% 5% 5% 0% 19% 24% 29%
The SRO makes a positive contribution to our school (Staff perceptions) Strongly Disagree Disagree Somewhat Disagree Somewhat Agree Agree Strongly Agree Division 3% 7% 7% 29% 29% 25% Elkhardt 0% 4% 4% 24% 38% 29% Henderson 0% 15% 10% 30% 20% 25% MLK 7% 7% 9% 40% 16% 21% Boushall 8% 8% 8% 33% 25% 17% RAS 0% 6% 0% 18% 29% 47%
How often have you spoken to the SRO during the last year? (Staff perceptions) Never 1 or 2 a semester About Weekly Every day. Division 15% 22% 28% 35% Elkhardt 7% 31% 33% 29% Henderson 10% 40% 35% 15% MLK 28% 21% 19% 33% Boushall 38% 29% 21% 13% RAS 6% 0% 29% 65% The SRO makes me feel safer at school? (Student perceptions) No SRO Strongly Disagree Disagree Agree Strongly Agree Division 26% 8% 14% 38% 14% Armstrong 10% 12% 22% 45% 11% Wythe 16% 12% 19% 44% 9% Huguenot - - - - - Marshall 11% 11% 24% 40% 14% RAS 16% 10% 8% 37% 29% TJ 7% 0% 7% 36% 50%
How often have you spoken to the SRO during the last year? (Student perceptions) Never 1 or 2 a semester About Weekly Every day. Division 63% 22% 8% 6% Armstrong 62% 22% 6% 10% Wythe 54% 28% 9% 9% Huguenot - - - - Marshall 62% 21% 10% 7% RAS 60% 23% 12% 5% TJ 77% 15% 0% 8%
The SRO makes me feel safer at school (Staff perceptions) No SRO Strongly Disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Somewhat Agree Agree Strongly Agree Division 22% 2% 4% 4% 20% 25% 22% Armstrong 2% 6% 2% 8% 20% 35% 27% Wythe 5% 0% 4% 14% 29% 38% 10% Huguenot 0% 0% 9% 5% 36% 32% 18% Marshall 6% 0% 0% 0% 19% 25% 50% RAS 5% 0% 10% 0% 30% 25% 30% TJ 10% 0% 10% 0% 10% 30% 40%
The SRO makes a positive contribution to our school (Staff perceptions) Strongly Disagree Disagree Somewhat Disagree Somewhat Agree Agree Strongly Agree Division 0% 3% 3% 18% 34% 42% Armstrong 0% 4% 2% 16% 36% 42% Wythe 0% 0% 5% 30% 45% 20% Huguenot 1% 0% 9% 18% 27% 45% Marshall 0% 0% 0% 6% 27% 67% RAS 0% 5% 0% 21% 37% 37% TJ 0% 11% 0% 11% 22% 56%
How often have you spoken to the SRO during the last year? (Staff perceptions) Never 1 or 2 a semester About Weekly Every day. Division 12% 16% 28% 44% Armstrong 14% 18% 22% 46% Wythe 15% 15% 35% 35% Huguenot 9% 23% 36% 32% Marshall 13% 20% 27% 40% RAS 5% 6% 21% 68% TJ 11% 1% 44% 44%