For Baltimore schools police chief, a little love can go a long Way

There is an article in today's Examiner that is an interview with the current chief of School Police. it is an interesting read as he provides insight into the difficult nature of school policing and he talks about how the profession has changed since he first entered the field in the `970's. He cites the onset and rise of gangs as the biggest problem the school police force is facing and the violence as a whole as a big issue. The most interesting insight gained from the article is the act that there are 120 officers for 193 schools which is rather ridiculous. This means that the school police force is stretched pretty thin and decreases their ability to respond to situations. The other interesting thing about the school police I have learned is that next year they will not be supervising hall monitors anymore. Hall monitors will fall under the jurisdiction of the schools and therefore the principals. That should make for an interesting situation because hall monitors by nature can only do so much and it really is a thankless job because you make very little money, takes tons of verbal abuse from children, and have to swallow a heap of blame from teachers and administrators. I have met the chief because his grandson attends our school and all in all he seems like a decent guy. I don't know how much school police can really do because juvenile justice in this city is so weak and it hinders the ability to enforce laws upon these children because they do not fear retribution from the law.
ayinde81