A new Minnesota law that has recently gone into effect has state law enforcement agencies considering, and in some cases, removing school resource officers (SROs) from school hallways.
Part of a sweeping education bill passed in this latest session, the law prohibits SROs from using some physical holds utilized by law enforcement within schools. This includes the use of prone restraints.
Members of law enforcement fear the new limitations will prevent SROs from intervening in situations of physical threats or threats to property. It also planted confusion in how law enforcement is supposed to approach such cases.
“It opens up some issues that I’m not sure what this was meant to correct,” said Austin Police Department Police Chief David McKichan, who explained that under the new law, restraint only applies to SROs, not for officers coming in from outside district buildings. “We certainly want (SROs) in the schools. They want to be there, but we’ve gone over several pieces of guidance with them. There will be times where we have to leverage to call in patrol staff just to take the risk away from SROs”
APD contracts out to the Austin Public Schools District to place two officers within the schools, something that has been happening for over 20 years. Despite the new law, both APD and administration within the district are falling back on that long-reaching relationship to continue the partnership.
According to Superintendent Dr. Joey Page, the relationship is part of a...
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