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Agreement clarifies police role in Denver schools
Posted: Feb 19, 2013 9:13 PM by AP posted by Juice Godfrey
DENVER (AP) - Denver police officers working in schools will get more training on what disciplinary issues they should get involved in and which ones they should leave to administrators.
Under a new agreement between police and the city's school district signed Tuesday, officers will be required to attend three yearly training sessions focused on working with adolescents.
The deal grew out of concerns that schools were relying too heavily on police officers to handle minor disciplinary problems. A local parent and youth group pushed for changes in hopes of reducing the number of expulsions, suspensions and referrals to police.
The document also outlines requirements for reporting problems to parents and principals.
The move comes nearly a year after state lawmakers relaxed "zero tolerance" school disciplinary rules adopted after the 1999 Columbine shootings.
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