NCJ Number
140347
Journal
Executive Educator Dated: (February 1989) Pages: 13-14,25
Date Published
1989
Length
3 pages
Annotation
A program of having police officers in the high school of Park Forest, Illinois, a diverse, middle-class suburb of Chicago, has been effective in reducing serious incidents and improving school security.
Abstract
An assistant principal and a police detective began talking about ways to bring police officers on campus. At first, the discussion only focused on using police officers for protection and security. Questions subsequently had to be resolved as to how police power would be used on campus and whether police officers could make arrests on school grounds. The 12 police officers eventually involved in the program were employed full-time by the police department and worked at the high school only one day a week when they were off duty. The high school paid the police officers $9.50 per hour for their services and budgeted 12 hours per day, for a yearly cost of $22,000. In addition to providing protection and security, the 12 police officers became involved in school activities and established positive working relationships with students. Guidelines to follow in selecting and using school police officers constructively are offered.