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Press
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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Berkeley
Police to Fully Staff City makes commitment to school safety -- full time police officers are assigned to Berkeley High School and all three middle schools for the next year. Berkeley, CA – In a strong show of support for school safety, the Berkeley Police Department has assigned full-time School Resource Officers to each of Berkeley’s middle schools and Berkeley High School. The City will provide this service at no cost to the school district. “During our recent Youth and Education Summit, we identified the need for school resource officers as an essential component of school safety,” said Mayor Tom Bates. “By reinvigorating this program, the Police Department and the City are taking a concrete step to ensure our children are safe.” The City, Police Department, and school district have a long history of working collaboratively to ensure the safety of school campuses. School Resource Officers have been a presence at Berkeley’s secondary schools since 1981. However, retirements and vacancies at the Police Department led to inconsistent coverage at Berkeley’s Middle Schools over the past several years. To address this staffing problem, Police Chief Roy Meisner is bringing two experienced Berkeley police officers back from retirement. In addition to providing security, the officers act as role models, counselors, and mentors to students. Their presence is a huge asset to the school administrators. “Assigning a school resource officer to Willard Middle School is a blessing,” said Williard Principal Michele Patterson. “Having an experienced officer on campus reduces loitering, theft and vandalism, while fostering a trusting relationship between students and the police.” #
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