Title
School Safety Overview
Description
This report provides an update to the Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee on the Police Department’s school safety initiatives and staffing. This report serves as a summary of the work completed by Police staff, in conjunction with the applicable school districts, to place School Resource Officers (SROs) into schools and explore creative solutions for future progress.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION
Report
Summary
During the July 3, 2023, City Council Formal meeting, the City Council requested staff to identify opportunities to add additional SROs and evaluate creative approaches to ensuring school safety.
School Resource Officers
At the request of school districts, the Police Department enters into Intergovernmental Agreements with various school districts to assist with the cost of SROs deployed in schools. Funding for these SROs is primarily provided through partnerships with the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) and individual school districts. Through this partnership, school district funds reimburse the City for 75 percent of the SRO's salary, while the remaining 25 percent is paid by the City.
The 2022-2023 school year included agreements for SRO services at 71 schools for a total deployment of 64 SROs. For the 2023-2024 school year, the City Council also authorized agreements for SRO services at 71 schools for a total deployment of 64 SROs. However, there were not additional SROs readily available to fill the 46 additional requests that were received from other school districts at that time. As a result, during the July 3, 2023, City Council Formal meeting, the City Council authorized the ability to enter into conditional agreements with the school districts that made a formal request for SROs. These agreements will allow the City and the additional school districts to move forward in the future if additional SROs are identified. The Police Department is actively undergoing a process to identify a small number of additional SROs for the 2023-2024 school year.
School Safety Officers
In addition to the SRO program, ADE provides grant funding for School Safety Officers (SSOs) to enhance police response and presence in schools that do not have a dedicated SRO. The SSO model is achieved through off-duty work completed by police officers who provide the same services that a SRO would provide. On Aug. 23 and Aug. 24, 2023, investigative details held a training for SSOs. This training expanded the ability to provide SSOs to schools that do not have SRO coverage. The training covered topics including mandatory reporting, bias crimes and school threat investigations.
Reserve Officers
Reserve Police Officers with the Phoenix Police Department are full authority, sworn police officers certified by Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST). Reserve officers adhere to the same rigorous hiring and training standards as career police officers. In many cases, after serving long careers, some retiring officers and investigators decide to transition to reserve officer status. Reserve officers are highly committed and dedicated to the community they serve. The Reserve Bureau is working to assign officers with interest in serving in a SRO capacity.
Additional Staffing Options
Staff is exploring additional options to support schools that have requested SROs. These alternative options include the possibility of hiring retired officers to exclusively work in the SRO role in a sworn capacity, the creation of a part-time officer position, and evaluating the creation of civilian positions to serve in a similar role to a SRO. However, each of these options require further research and consideration. The ability to hire retirees or to create part-time positions have implications related to retirement benefits and contributions, which require additional evaluation.
School Safety Initiatives
In addition to staffing, the Police Department is working to implement other initiatives to ensure school safety throughout the community. Police staff is finalizing the production of a public service announcement that will provide guidance to parents and guardians on how to respond during an emergency situation. Additionally, Police and Communications staff are strengthening coordination efforts that will allow SSOs working in a school to be identified as such instead of a regular off-duty assignment. Lastly, Police staff are working with schools to maintain updated Threat Vulnerability Assessments (TVAs) to ensure proper emergency preparation and mitigation steps are enacted in advance of an incident.
Next Steps
Police staff will continue exploring these and other options to support school safety and will report back to the subcommittee. Staff will continue to work with school safety partners to identify creative solutions to staffing shortages and evaluate more innovative approaches. In the coming weeks, City staff plan to engage with school districts in a collective discussion on the topic of school safety.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays and the Police Department.