Wichita, Kansas | August 2009
Children, Safety, Police, Schools, Community
Writtn by: Bobby Stout

Over the years police departments have tried a variety of programs in the hopes of building a better relationship with young people. In Wichita we’ve seen “Officer Friendly,” “Buzz with the Fuzz”’ and “McGruff the Crime Dog.”

In 1997, utilizing federal grant funds, the School Resource Officer program was introduced, resulting in a full-time police officer being assigned to each of Wichita’s high schools. The program was an instant success. Officers were able to get to know students personally and help them work through problems they were encountering in school and at home. They have also served as role models and mentors, while providing extra security when called on by faculty and administrators. Very quickly, the SROs became an integral part of the high school family. Their presence in high schools was so successful, SROs were later assigned to middle schools.

Unfortunately, when the grants expired, it became unclear who should pay for their services - the City of Wichita or USD 259.

After much negotiation between City Council and Board of Education members, it was determined each would pay half of the cost and officers would be assigned to the schools on a nine-month basis. During the months school is not in session, the officers work with kids at summer camps held by the police department and fill in for vacationing officers.

The Wichita Crime Commission has taken a great interest in this program. It affords officers the opportunity to serve as a part of – not apart from – the lives of so many impressionable young people. When called upon, the Crime Commission has provided resources and assistance to SROs so they can meet the challenge of working with the kids in middle and high schools. The state’s SRO of the year, Officer Brian Smith from neighboring Augusta, says, “I know that I help guard Fort Knox...there’s nothing more important than our children.” Certainly, no one can disagree.

Now, in 2009, current budget shortfalls have forced the City Council and BOE to make some difficult decisions. Both are seriously considering eliminating 11 of the 22 SROs as a cost-saving measure. If adopted, it would mean there would be no full-time officer in any middle school. There would also be no one developing preventative programs, such as anti-bullying, anti-drug abuse and anti-gang involvement.

The question is no longer “Can we afford these officers in middle schools?” but, “Can we afford not to have them there?”

While the removal of SROs may appear to address budget issues, the unintended consequences of such an action may have a longer, more detrimental effect on our city. Police officer rapport with sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders will be lost completely. Moreover, when beat officers are forced to respond to calls at schools – and such calls happen frequently – it will take officers longer to respond to other calls within the community since their workloads will be increased.

If you feel as strongly as members of the Wichita Crime Commission about this issue, visit www.saveoursro.com, where you’ll find more information about this issue. You’ll also find the e-mail addresses for City Council and BOE members, so that you can express your feelings in writing. But don’t delay. This will come up for a vote in just a few weeks.

Removing School Resource Officers from Wichita middle schools is a very bad idea. The National Association of School Resource Officers stands for “Safer Schools – Safer Kids.”

It’s difficult to argue with that philosophy.