WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	State looks to add officers to schools (Waterbury-WTNH) _ Connecticut is taking big steps to keep schools safe in this state. It comes in response to the Littleton, Colorado school shootings and the many threats pouring into schools across the country. A new alliance between state police, school administrators, and social workers is in the planning stages, and it would include another 100 state troopers in schools. News Channel 8's Judy Chong reports. Prevention is the key here. One way to do that is to have a school resource officer who the students know and trust. That way, the S.R.O. can keep his or her ear to the ground and stop trouble before it begins. A trip to the circus is just one the places where you'll find Officer Dan Picagli hanging-out with the students from the Fair Haven Middle School. He's a School Resource Officer. His roles are many. Ofcr. Dan Picagli: "I believe we probably wear 20 hats. If you had to put titles, then, social workers, resource officer, mentor, guidance counselors, the coach." A coalition of law enforcement, educators, and students met today to in an effort to get more S.R.O.s into Connecticut schools. Many schools have security personnel, but only 50 out of 165 school districts have bona fide S.R.O.'s who are sworn police officers with special training for their school duties. Local police are interested in adding S.R.O.'s into their communities. State police plans to contribute troopers. Dr Henry Lee, Public Safety Commissioner: "100 of them are going to be community police officers and resources officers directly participating in the program." Students speaking today said a school resource officer can help to prevent arguments and violence from breaking out. Samantha Minton, Hartford High Student: "Our S.R.O. has taken them aside and said, this is not what you want to do. You don't need to be concentrating on this. What you should be concentrating on what you're here for which is your education." The fight against violence becomes a 2 way street. Ofcr. Dan Picagli: "We get a lot of information from children who are worried about their own safety and or trouble in the community. They will give you information to take the appropriate action." The latest state crime statistics show a record-setting number of young offenders. More than 800 children under age ten were arrested in 1997, that a nearly a 20-percent jump over 1996. Of those 800 arrests, 158 were for serious offenses like aggravated assault, arson, and burglary. Everyone admits one program won't solve a problem as complex as violence, but it's another tool in an effort to make schools safer. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

State looks to add officers to schools
(Waterbury-WTNH) _ Connecticut is taking big steps to keep schools safe in this state. It comes in response to the Littleton, Colorado school shootings and the many threats pouring into schools across the country. A new alliance between state police, school administrators, and social workers is in the planning stages, and it would include another 100 state troopers in schools.
News Channel 8's Judy Chong reports.

Prevention is the key here. One way to do that is to have a school resource officer who the students know and trust. That way, the S.R.O. can keep his or her ear to the ground and stop trouble before it begins.

A trip to the circus is just one the places where you'll find Officer Dan Picagli hanging-out with the students from the Fair Haven Middle School. He's a School Resource Officer. His roles are many.

Ofcr. Dan Picagli: "I believe we probably wear 20 hats. If you had to put titles, then, social workers, resource officer, mentor, guidance counselors, the coach."

A coalition of law enforcement, educators, and students met today to in an effort to get more S.R.O.s into Connecticut schools. Many schools have security personnel, but only 50 out of 165 school districts have bona fide S.R.O.'s who are sworn police officers with special training for their school duties.

Local police are interested in adding S.R.O.'s into their communities. State police plans to contribute troopers.

Dr Henry Lee, Public Safety Commissioner: "100 of them are going to be community police officers and resources officers directly participating in the program."

Students speaking today said a school resource officer can help to prevent arguments and violence from breaking out.

Samantha Minton, Hartford High Student: "Our S.R.O. has taken them aside and said, this is not what you want to do. You don't need to be concentrating on this. What you should be concentrating on what you're here for which is your education."

The fight against violence becomes a 2 way street.

Ofcr. Dan Picagli: "We get a lot of information from children who are worried about their own safety and or trouble in the community. They will give you information to take the appropriate action."

The latest state crime statistics show a record-setting number of young offenders. More than 800 children under age ten were arrested in 1997, that a nearly a 20-percent jump over 1996. Of those 800 arrests, 158 were for serious offenses like aggravated assault, arson, and burglary.

Everyone admits one program won't solve a problem as complex as violence, but it's another tool in an effort to make schools safer.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.