Will this become the new "norm" police in our elementary schools!
By Marc Somelofski
"Sebastian, FL - Recently there was a scare in my community. There was a reported attempted abduction of two children, one which occurred in the drop off are of my son’s school. The information can be found here.
This scare resulted in a constant police presence at the elementary school. The assigned police officer routinely gives directions to both students and parents.
On Thursday November 1st, 2012 I picked up my son from school. Normally he comes out to me but this time the Assistant Principal stopped my son and told me he must follow school rules. I asked what are the rules were, as they appeared to have changed. The Assistant Principal ignored my question and radioed the Principal. I left.
I was disturbed by the schools lack of communication and attempt to create the illusion of security by using the police to exert control. I decided to to keep my son home on Friday November 2nd, 2012 to see how competent the school was at following its actual printed policy. The school policy is that when a student is absent the school needs to be called. I kept my son home from but did not call. Despite the school policy, I received no notice from the school regarding his absence. He could have been abducted and no one would have known for at least six hours. It is clear that the school’s unstated policy and police presence are a show.
On Monday November 5, 2012, I picked up my son from school. This time I waited for him to sit on the bench. That’s what it seemed the Assistant Principal wanted, though she never stated this. A police officer stood by and watched. I called my son over to me and I was told not to by the officer. I asked why, as other parents were doing the same.
I was told by the officer that if I called my son over that I would be arrested for trespassing and would have to wait off of school property for my son. Having a six-year-old leave school unsupervised, as the officer suggests, would create a dangerous situation that did not exist before.
I told the officer I didn’t appreciate police presence at my son’s elementary school. His response was, “too bad.” I told him that unless he intended to stop me, my son and I were leaving.
I wrote an email to school officials that I wanted to make it perfectly clear that, as a parent, I will not be intimidated by the Sebastian Police Department. I stated that not following school policy is not a criminal act. I also said that I summarily reject the enforcement of school policy by the Sebastian Police Department and any directives given to me by a police officer regarding school policy will be ignored.
I kept my son home Tuesday November 6 but informed both the school and the police department that when I pick up my son on Wednesday November 7, I will be accompanied by a wife, an employee of the local weekly paper. I also made it clear that any interaction between myself and the school or myself and the Sebastian Police Department will be recorded with or without consent. I fear that at that time the police will respond by arresting me as they have threatened."
I emailed this information and my intent to reject police enforcement of unstated school policy to the following:
City of Sebastian Police Department
spd@cityofsebastian.org
School Superintendent Dr. Fran Adams
Superintendent@indianriverschools.org
Sebastian Elementary Principal Letitia Whitfield-Hart
Letitia.Whitfield@indianriverschools.org
Sebastian Elementary Assistant Principal Cheryl Hoyt
Cheryl.Hoyt@indianriverschools.org
http://www.copblock.org/23363/police-enforcing-unstated-elementary-school-policies/