Regina public, Catholic school divisions seeking feedback on School Resource Officer program

Regina’s public and Catholic school divisions want feedback when it comes to taking the next steps with their School Resource Officer (SRO) program.

Over the next two and a half weeks, the school divisions will be hosting six open houses, where they’ll hear from parents about the positives and negatives of the program. There’s also an online survey.

SROs were introduced into Regina schools 43 years ago in partnership with the Regina Police Service.

The officers are stationed full-time in high schools and poke their heads into elementary schools every now and then. Each school has one officer assigned to it.

The goal of the program is to develop positive relationships between youth and police, provide school staff with a resource in the areas of law, and have police work in the community to help create a safe school environment.

Just last week, a School Resource Officer was involved when a student allegedly brought a fake gun to a Regina high school.

Regina Police Service Chief Evan Bray said Tuesday he’s open to hearing feedback from parents who are in support of the program as well as those who are against it.

“We’re constantly hearing positive feedback from school administrators, staff and students, but I recognize not everyone loves the program,” Bray explained.

“Sometimes, people don’t feel safe having a police officer at their school, so what can we do to ease that tension that might exist for a small number of people and strengthen the program (so) everyone does feel safe with police officers in the schools?”

Bray feels the program allows younger people to see a better image of police at a younger age.

“It’s set to build relationships. Sometimes having those officers there, people feel good about going and talking to them,” he said.

Currently, there are 12 constables, two corporals and one sergeant assigned to all the schools across the city.

Neither school division was willing to comment directly on the matter as they didn’t want to interfere with the survey process.

SROs also help the schools through education, investigation, law enforcement, counselling (relative to the law), crime prevention, and community relations.

Come-and-go open houses have been scheduled for:

Tuesday: St. Kateri Tekakwitha School gym, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Thursday: Campbell Collegiate multi-purpose space (McTavish’s), 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Feb. 2: École St. Elizabeth gym, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Feb. 7: St. Nicholas School gym, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Feb. 8: Michael A. Riffel Catholic High School, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Feb. 9: mâmawêyatitân centre/Scott Collegiate, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.