I'M VERY SORRY. [00:00:01] THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. [Call the Work Session to Order] AND I'M SO GLAD THAT AT LEAST WE WERE ZOOMING IN SO YOU COULD ZOOM OUT A LITTLE WHILE, HOPEFULLY, WHILE YOU WERE WAITING FOR US TO GET TO THIS POINT IN OUR [1. Alexandria City Public Schools/Alexandria Police Department (APD) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)] EVENING. AND SO WITH AND WITHOUT DELAY, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DR. HUTCHINGS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. YES. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OUR MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT. FIRST, I JUST WANT TO WELCOME CHIEF DR. MICHAEL BROWN. AND, ONE, I JUST THANK YOU FOR THE PARTNERSHIP AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO WORK AND COLLABORATE WITH YOU OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS OR THREE YEARS, GOING ON YEAR THREE FOR ME AT THIS POINT. AND THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC. THIS IS SOMETHING THE BOARD AS YOU WELL KNOW WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED SOME E MAILS AND THINGS IN REGARDS TO OUR MLU. THIS IS A PART OF OUR PROCESS IN MAKING SURE THAT WITHIN TWO YEARS, THAT WE ARE REVISITING OUR MOU, MAKING ANY NECESSARY REVISIONS OR DETERMINING IF WE ARE GOING TO KEEP THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. SO TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TALK THROUGH SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO THE BOARD, AS WELL AS TO PROVIDE, NOT ONLY THE BOARD BUT ALSO OUR COMMUNITY, WITH SOME INSIGHT TO REALLY WHAT OUR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, WHAT THEY DO WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS AND HOW THEY ARE BENEFICIAL OR HAVE BEEN BENEFICIAL TO US OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. SO I'M GOING TO TURN THINGS OVER TO TO DR. HART, WHO WILL INTRODUCE, I BELIEVE, OUR TEAM, TO GET STARTED WITH THIS. SO DR. HART? >> GOOD EVENING, AGAIN, EVERYONE. SO NOT TO BELABOR THE POINT I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO DR. JOHN CONTRARIS. HE IS THE DIRECTOR OF SECURITY AND SAFETY SERVICES. >> THANK YOU, DR. HART. CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME OKAY? YES. GOOD. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CHIEF BROWN, THANK YOU FOR STICKING AROUND. NO INTRODUCTION NEEDED, OBVIOUSLY. I WANTED TO INTRODUCE THE REST OF THE DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, THOUGH. WE DO HAVE CAPTAIN SORIANO ON. WE DO HAVE TWO SRO'S WHO WILL SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS HOPEFULLY LATER TODAY. OFFICER LADIOS IS US WITH. >> HELLO. >> AND OFFICER LAGRETTA IS ALSO WITH US. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING WITH US. I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THE SLIDES BRIEFLY. I'LL BE AS DETAILED AS POSSIBLE. SO, THANK YOU, CHAIR HANDERSON. THANK YOU, SCHOOL BOARD AND DR. HUTCHINGS. GO AHEAD AND GO TO SLIDE TWO IF YOU WOULD FOR ME. SO ACTUALLY YOU CAN SKIP TO SLIDE THREE NOW. OKAY. THANK YOU. AS FAR AS THE TIME LINE, THE COMMITTEE, ALONG WITH THE ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE CONDUCTED A PARAGRAPH BY PARAGRAPH REVIEW OF THE OF THE MEMO OF THE CURRENT MEMO. WE ENSURED THAT STATE COMPLIANCE AND ADDRESS WHAT WE CONSIDERED MAJOR FLAWS WITH THE ORIGINAL MEMO THE 2018 VERSION. WE HAVE HAD THE COMMUNITY INPUT PERIOD OPEN SINCE SEPTEMBER 17TH. WE HAD OUR PUBLIC HEARING ON OCTOBER 1ST AND WE UPDATED THE MEMO BASED ON COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS, E MAILS, LETTERS, AND OTHER ITEMS OF RECOMMENDATIONS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SLIDE FOUR. WE WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE MAJOR CHANGES IN THE MOU SHORTLY WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL THAT WE KEPT IN MIND AS PROVIDING A SAFE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT FOR LEARNING. I'LL TALK ABOUT THIS SEARCH HAVE NEXT. WE DID SUPPLY A SEARCH HAVE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO RESPOND TO. WE HAD 81 RESPONDENTS. OF THOSE 81 RESPONDENTS, 69% SELECT I'M SORRY. 31%. I'M GOING TO DROP DOWN TO THE LAST LINE. 31% SELECTED NO REVISIONS NEEDED. 69% SELECTED REVISIONS NEEDED. OF THOSE 40 OUT OF THE 81 RESPONDENTS MENTIONED REMOVING SOME SRO FROM SCHOOLS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WE MADE SEVERAL EDITS TO THE MOU. I WILL DISCUSS OR HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THEM THIS EVENING. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, MY HOPE IS THAT I CAN CLOSE A FEW OF THE GAPS SO THAT THE PIECES START TO MAKE SENSE. THE FIRST SECTION WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER IS THE THE EVALUATION PERFORMANCE SECTION, SECTION 3 OF THE NEW MEMORANDUM. THE EVALUATION OR DETERMINATION OF SUCCESS OF OUR SCHOOL LAW ENFORCEMENT [00:05:03] PARTNERSHIPS A HUGE TOPIC RIGHT NOW, AND THAT' THINK IT'S RECEIVED THE MOST SCRUTINY AND QUESTIONS. I WILL START WITH THIS SECTION AND SECTION 3B, IN PARTICULAR. ONE OF THE WAYS WE'RE GOING TOW RECEIVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND COLLECTION OF DATA IS THE FORM AND THAT IS FOUND ON APPENDIX TWO OF THE EDITED VERSION OF THE MEMORANDUM. AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, SEVERAL HAPPENEDOUTS ATTACHED TO THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMO, WE HAD VIRGINIA, AND THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND WE HAD THE SCHOOL CENTER OF DEFINITION. WE HAD THE 2020 COMMUNITY SURVEY FEEDBACK. WE HAD THE CURRENT MOU, WHICH IS THE 2018 VERSION. PROVIDED THE EDITED NEW DRAFT. SEVERAL CLIMATE SURVEYS THAT I WILL DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT LATER. BY COLLECTING THESE FORMS, THIS WILL ALLOW A CPS TALKING AGAIN ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORT FORM. IT WILL ALLOW US TO BETTER ANALYZE POLICE ACTIONS THAT OUR CORRECT AT OUR SCHOOLS. THIS FORM IS REQUIRED ANY TIME THERE IS A POLICE ACTION AT ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS. WHEN A FORM IS TURNED IN, SAFETY AND SECURITY SERVICES IS PROMPTED TO REVIEW THE EVENT AND CONDUCT RESEARCH IN THE EVENT. THIS RESEARCH WILL HELP GUIDE OUR QUARTERLY REVIEWS WHICH ARE NOW GOING TO BE MANDATORY, AND IT WILL ALSO GUIDE OUR ANNUAL REPORTING TO THE SCHOOL BOARD. WE ARE MANDATING THAT WE HAVE A QUARTERLY REVIEW IN AUGUST, NOVEMBER, FEBRUARY, AND MAY OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. AND, OF COURSE, OUR ANNUAL REVIEW WILL BE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE. THIS WILL ALSO HELP WITH OUR BOD REQUIREMENTS AS STATED BY THE POLICY AND I WILL COVER A LITTLE BIT OF THE DETAILS OF CLA ON THE NEXT SLIDE. CAN YOU GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE NEXT SECTION I WANTED TO DISCUSS IS SECTION FOUR, ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. AND THIS IS SPECIFICALLY STATED THAT IT IS MANDATORY PRIOR TO WORK OR SCHOOL ASSIGNMENT. AND IT IS PROVIDED BY DCS AND THE SCHOOL WILL ENSURE COMPLIANCE OF THIS UPDATED REQUIREMENT. WE'VE ALSO REVISED THE MEMO FOR SCHOOL BOARD POLICY. I'LL EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT WITH A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES. THE MOU IS A GUIDE AND A SCHOOL BOARD POLICY IS MUCH MORE DETAILED AND DESCRIBES THE REQUIRED ACTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENTS. AND A REQUIRES THAT ACTS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE BE REPORTED TO THE PRINCIPAL. SECTION B STATES THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD AND PRINCIPAL RECEIVE REPORTS FROM LAW ENFORCEMENTEN AUTHORITIES. UNDER THE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION SECTION OF THAT SCHOOL BOARD POLICY, THE SCHOOL BOARD DEVELOPS IN COOPERATION WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES JUVENILE DOMESTIC RELATIONS, COURT JUDGES, AND PERSONNEL, PARENTS, GUARDIANS, AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE PROGRAMS TO PREVENT VIOLENCE AND CRIME AT SCHOOL PROPERTY AND AT SCHOOL SPONSORED EVENTS. AND AGAIN THE PURPOSE WAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING AND WE HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THE SCHOOL BOARD SECTION THAT RELATES TO THE MOU. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS ONE, SECTION 5, THE OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES, I'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND READ IT BECAUSE IT WAS VERY IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE COMMITTEE. PRIOR TO ANY QUESTIONING OF A STUDENT, THE SRO OR POLICE OFFICER MUST VERIFY THAT THE STUDENT HAS HAD CONTACTS WITH THEIR PARENT, GUARDIAN, OR LEGAL CUSTODIAN. THE PREVIOUS VERSION TALKED ABOUT CONTACTING THE PARENT, BUT MADE NO MADE NO INDICATION AS TO WHAT THE REQUIREMENT WAS. NOW, WE ARE REQUIRING THAT THAT THE SCHOOL VERIFY THAT THE THAT THE STUDENT HAS HAD [00:10:03] CONTACT WITH THEIR PARENT. AND I WILL NOT BRING UP THE FORM ON THIS SLIDE SHOW BUT THERE WAS A QUESTION AS TO WHETHER THE PARENT HAD BEEN CONTACTED. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THE SRO'S DAY IS LIKE THAT'S WHY WE ASKED THE OFFICERS TO BE HERE, OFFICER LADDIOS AND MR. ARGUETTA. MR. ARGUETTA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT THIS EVENING? >> YEAH. CAN YOU HEAR? >> YES. GO AHEAD. >> YES. SO I PRETTY MUCH WROTE A LITTLE SOMETHING HERE. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO START OFF BY INTRODUCING MYSELF. MY NAME IS OFFICER GARY ARGUETA. I AM THE SRO AT THE TC HIGH SCHOOL. I'VE BEEN THE SRO THERE FOR THREE YEARS AND AN ALEXANDRIA POLICE OFFICER FOR 5 1/2 YEARS. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING ME AND LETTING ME SPEAK TO YOU ALL TODAY TONIGHT. AT TC WILLIAMS MY MORNING BEGINS BEFORE THE STUDENTS ARRIVE. I USUALLY START OFF IN THE CAFETERIA AND GREET THE STUDENTS IN THE MORNING. MOST OF THE TIMES, THE STUDENTS WAVE TO ME AND SHAKE MY HAND AND ASK HOW I'M DOING. SOME OF THEM ARE STUDENTS INVOLVED IN THE SOCCER PROGRAM THAT MYSELF AND OFFICER LAGRIOS HAVE CREATED, OR STUDENTS I'VE HELPED IN THE PAST. ONCE STUDENTS GO TO THEIR CLASS TO BEGIN THEIR SCHOOL DAY, I GO TO MY OFFICE AND CHECK MY WORK E MAILS. FROM THERE, I'M WAITING FOR SCHOOL LUNCH TO START. DURING THIS PERIOD, I WALK AROUND THE SCHOOL, SOMETIMES VISIT WITH THE SCHOOL'S SOCIAL WORKERS TO SEE IF THEY NEED ANYTHING. SOMETIMES I HELP THE SOCIAL WORKERS BY SPEAKING TO STUDENTS WHO THEY'VE REFERRED TO ME. THESE STUDENTS ARE REFERRED TO ME BECAUSE THEY ASK ABOUT THE PROCESS ON BECOMING A POLICE OFFICER OR ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING THE SOCCER PROGRAM, OR INTERESTED IN THE MILITARY. BEFORE BEING A POLICE OFFICER, I WAS IN THE AIR FORCE. MYSELF AND OFFICER LARRIOS, WE HELP THE ACADEMY WHEN THEY HAVE THEIR OPPORTUNITY AND THEY INTRODUCE IT TO ALSO THEIR PARENTS. ONCE IT'S LUNCHTIME, YOU KNOW, I I GO TOUT THE CAFETERIA BE AND USUALLY STAND WITH AN ADMINISTRATOR. I USUALLY DON'T STAY FOR THE ENTIRE LUNCH. TRY TO BE OUT IN THE CAFETERIA FOR ALL FOUR PERIODS. DURING THIS THIS LUNCHTIME, STUDENTS COME UP TO ME AND THEY TALK TO ME ABOUT THEIR GRADES AND THEY TALK TO ME ABOUT SOCCER, THEY ASK ME ADVICE, YOU KNOW, HOW TO GET THEIR LICENSE. AND IF THIS OR THAT HAPPENS IF THEY DON'T HAVE A LICENSE AND JUST SIMPLE ADVICE. I ALSO TAKE THIS LUNCHTIME TO TO LOCATE THE PLAYERS THAT ARE ON MY TEAM AND JUST SEE HOW THEY'RE DOING MENTALLY, PHYSICALLY, SEE IF THEY'RE THEY NEED ANY HELP WITH THEIR SCHOOL WORK OR ANYTHING THAT I CAN OFFER TO THEM. I ALSO GO AROUND THE LUNCH PERIOD AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY IS IT STUDENTS WHO DO THE LUNCH PROGRAM AND THEN MY DAY DOES NOT END THERE. AND I CAN HELP WITH THE KIDS THAT OFFICER LARRIOS AND I COACH. THIS WAS ARE ADDRESSED BY THE NEEDS THAT WE SAW THAT KIDS IN THE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY NEEDED. THIS PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO GIVE THESE KIDS A SENSE OF PLANNING AND THE LOVE OF SOCCER THAT BROUGHT US TOGETHER. WE STARTED IN THE WINTER OF 2017 WITH CORRECTION 20 KIDS. TO THIS DAY WE HAVE ABOUT 60 OR 70 KIDS IN OUR PROGRAM. [00:15:05] AND OUR PROGRAM IS FULLY FUNDED BY THE ALEXANDRIA SOCCER ASSOCIATION AND WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE 20 KIDS TO A D.C. UNITED GAME AT NO COST TO THEM. LAJE THOUGH MOST TEAMS CUT PLAYERS, WE DON'T DO THAT. WE WORK WITH THEM AND MOTIVATE THEM AND TRY TO KEACH THEM SKILLS THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO USE OFF THE FIELD AS WELL AS ON THE FIELD. AND LAST YEAR WE WERE GIVEN 10,000 THROUGH THE CHARITY FOUNDATION HO THROUGH OUR SOCCER PROGRAM AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET A SCHOLARSHIP FOR ONE OF OUR PLAYERS WHO GRADUATED IN 2017 AND HE WAS A TC WEB STUDENT. AND I CREATED ANOTHER EVENT CALLED THE KIDS VERSUS COPS FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT. THIS WAS AN IDEA THAT CAME TO ME ON THE SUMMER OF MY FIRST YEAR OF BEING AN SRO. DURING THE SUMMER I WAS WORKING PATROL AND WOULD TALK WITH STUDENTS WHO KEPT ASKING ME TO PLAY SOCCER WITH THEM. AND THIS EVENT BROUGHT THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AS ONLOOKERS AND BROUGHT OUT THEIR LAWN CHAIRS AND WERE TAKING PICTURES. SOME WERE NOT RELATED TO THE KIDS. IT WAS A GREAT COMMUNITY GATHERING. AND THERE WERE MANY ARTICLES WHICH INCLUDED THE WASHINGTON POST, GAZETTE, ALEXANDRIA TIMES. WE HAVE BEEN ON TELEMUNDO FOR A HEROES' SPECIAL. AND WE DID A HOMETOWN SPECIAL THEY DID IN THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? >> THANK YOU, OFFICER. I APPRECIATE THAT. OFFICER LAGGITIOS, THANKS FOR JOINING US. AND I'LL TRY TO READ IT FAST BECAUSE I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE TIRED. MY NAME IS JOHN LARGIOS. I WAS RAISED IN D.C. AND ATTENDED JOHN O HIGH SCHOOL AND I GOT MY BACHELOR IN CRIMINAL SCIENCE AND I OVERSAW A PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDED SCHOLARSHIP AS CROSS THE COUNTRY TO LATINO STUDENTS WHO WERE GIFTED IN THE STEM FIELDS. AND I CAN SAY THESE PAST THREE YEARS I'VE NEVER BEEN MY BEST MY FAVORITE BUT IN MY CAREER AND LIFE AND I GET THAT NONE OTHER THAN THE AMAZING STUDENTS AND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE IN TC. AFTER THE STUDENTS SAW ME, THEY WEREN'T SURE AND THEN THEY SAW WHAT KIND OF AN OFFICER I AM. AND THEY THOUGHT, HEY, OFFICERS ARE NOT GOING TO GET ME IN TROUBLE. MY DAILY IDEA WAS HOW DO I KEEP THIS SAFE? NOTHING MORE. AND IF PEOPLE HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AND THEY LIKE ME FOR MANY OTHER REASONS AND IT IS NOT PLUS OTHER INTERACTION. AND MY GOAL IS TO PROTECT PEOPLE. AND RATHER THAN GETTING PEOPLE IN TROUBLE, I TALK TO KIDS WHO I'VE DEVELOPED A STRONG BOND WITH. THEY TELL ME ABOUT THEIR FAMILY PROBLEMS, THEIR SCHOOL PROBLEMS OR PEOPLE THEY'VE LOST OR THEY NEED GUIDANCE IN LIFE. AND I HAVE KIDS WHO FEEL COMFORTABLE CRYING WITH ME. CAN I GO INTO DETAIL. THAT IS THEIR STORY NOT MINE. WHEN I SAY THAT I HAVE TO KICK KIDS OUT OF MY OFFICE, IT IS A GOOD PROBLEM AND I [00:20:07] CAN'T EAT MY LUNCH IN PEACE WITHOUT STUDENTS COMING CONSTANTLY TO TALK TO ME WHICH I'M OKAY. AND AND WHEN SOMEONE COMMITS A CRIME I'M THE LAST PERSON WHO WANTS TO CHARGE THEM. AND I TRY TO GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. AND A ZERO ROLE FOR DISCIPLINE THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE A CRIMINAL OR SAFETY ISSUE. LASTLY I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT [INAUDIBLE] AND I CAN BE ANYWHERE IN IN THE SCHOOL IN UNDER A MINUTE AND TELLING PEOPLE HOW TO GET THERE AND WHAT THE PERSON LOOKS LIKE, JUST BEING ON CAMPUS. OTHER SCENARIOS AND WE HAVE OPTIONS ON THE PLACE. THEY DON'T KNOW THIS PLACE LIKE I DO. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT 1C CORRIDOR MEANS AND NOBODY IS FASTER THAN ME AND OFFICER LAGATTA AND SECONDS MATTER. AND IN CLOSING I WANT TO SAY I LIKE THIS SCHOOL AND EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. AND WHETHER YOU DECIDE TO KEEP ME OR OTHERS THERE, I'LL FOREVER BE A TITAN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU, OFFICER, I APPRECIATE THAT. CHAIR ANDERSON I WANT TO RELINQUISH SOME OF MY TIME ALSO. WE ASKED THE SECONDARY PRINCIPALS TO BE AVAILABLE. I WILL GO THROUGH EACH ONE OF THEM. I THINK THEY'RE ALL STILL HERE TO SEE IF THEY WANT TO SAY ANYTHING. I'LL START WITH MS. PETERS. DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING THIS EVENING, MS. PETERS? >> ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE THE THREE OF US WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK BUT MR. BALLAST WILL SPEAK FIRST. >> THANK YOU, GRANT. GOOD MORNING GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. I'M GOING TO GET RIGHT TO IT. I'M ON MY THIRD OUTFIT CHANGE OF THIS MEETING SO I'M ALL READY TO GO. SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WILL I'LL DO A PROBLEM INTRODUCTION. GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS PETER BALLAST, PRINCIPAL OF TC HIGH SCHOOL. I'M GLAD TO BE HERE WITH JESSIE AND TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A PRINCIPALS' PERSPECTIVE ON OFFICERS AND OUR VIEWS REFLECT COMMENT OF THE WHOLE PRINCIPAL GROUP AS WE ASKED FOR THEIR INPUT AS WELL. I'D LIKE TO FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE THE COMMENTARY THAT'S BEEN OFFERED SO FAR ON THIS TOPIC ESPECIALLY WITH OUR STUDENTS W. THAT SAID I'D LIKE TO SAY WHEN YOU HAVE AS MANY STUDENTS AS WE DO IN OUR BUILDINGS IT IS INEVITABLE THERE WILL BE ALL DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES AND OPINIONS AND THAT EVERY EVERY STUDENT'S EXPERIENCE IS UNIQUE. AS A PRINCIPAL, I LOOK AT OUR SRO'S AND OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT AS VITAL RESOURCES THAT HAVE MANY BENEFITS FOR OUR SCHOOL OR STAFF AND OUR STUDENTS. FIRST AND FOREMOST IS SCHOOL SAFETY. ONE OF THE HON FORTUNATE REALTIES IN OUR COUNTRY IS AROUND ONE OF THE UNFORTUNATE REALTIES IN OUR COUNTRY IS THE SRO'S AND ANY THREAT IS PARAMOUNT TO OUR SAFETY. THEIR PROXIMITY AND THEIR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO OR EVEN PREVENT ANY EVENT COULD RESULT AND SAVE LIVES. IN ADDITION, WHILE WELL MAY NOT ALL WOULD LIKE TO HEAR IT WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL REMEMBER THAT CRIMES DO HAPPEN IN SCHOOLS, IN ALL SCHOOLS. SOMETIMES THESE STUDENTS MISTAKES AND JUDGMENT DO REQUIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE OFFICERS WHO ARE TRAINED AND AS YOU CAN SEE, FRANKLY GOOD AT WORKING WITH TEENS. IT IS NOT SOMETHING EVERYONE IS GOOD AT OR NOT SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE WANTS TO DO. WHILE SOME MAY THINK THAT THE SRO'S ARE JUST THE ARRESTING AGENTS AND THAT'S WHAT THEY SPEND THE BULK OF THEIR DAY DOING I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO REMIND YOU THAT THE SRO'S SPEND THE MAJORITY OF THEIR TIME WORKING WITH VICTIMS OF CRIME WHO ARE ALSO OUR STUDENTS. AND THE SRO'S ARE NOT TRYING TO WALK THROUGH THE HALLWAYS SNIFFING OUT CRIMES THEY CAN ARREST KIDS FOR. IN FACT THE SRO'S GET INVOLVED WHEN BUILDING LEADERSHIP CONTEXT IF [00:25:01] THEY'RE NEEDED. I COLLABORATE WITH THE SRO'S AND ENSURE WE LOOK AT ALL POSSIBLE REMEDIES OTHER THAN ARRESTS OR CHARMS JUST LIKE OFFICER LARRIO SAID. PLEASE KNOW THAT CHARGES ARE NOT ALWAYS SOUGHT BY THE SCHOOL OR AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED. ARRESTS AND CHARGES ALSO HAPPEN WHEN ONE STUDENT OR FAMILY WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE PRESENT CHARGES AGAINST ANOTHER STUDENT SUCH AS IN ASSAULTS OR THEFTS. AND EVEN IN THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS, WE'RE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE TRAINED SRO'S, RATHER THAN INVITE ANY OFFICER WHO MAY BE CLOSE BY ON PATROL TO RESPOND. I'D LIKE TO ALSO CLARIFY SOME INFORMATION THAT OFFICER LARRIOS STARTED TO CLARIFY. LARRIOS AND AS OFFICER LARRIOS DESCRIBED THE STUDENTS ARE NOT AROUND THE SUSPENSIONS AND TO CLAIM THAT SUSPECTS DATE IS NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE SRO'S AS SIMPLY FALSE. SCHOOL DISCIPLINE IS NOT THEIR JOB. AND THEY DON'T GET INVOLVED IN THOSE DECISION MAKING PROCESSES. FINALLY I HOPE CAN YOU SEE FROM OFFICER LARRIOS AND ARGETTA IN THEIR COMMENTS THAT THEY HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON CULTURE AND STUDENTS ARE SEEKING OUT THE SRO'S SO MUCH SO THAT THEY HAD TO PUT A SIGN ON THEIR DOOR THAT STUDENTS ONLY ENTER WITH AN ADMINISTRATOR'S PASS. IN A CPS WE WANT ALL STUDENTS TO HAVE THAT CONNECTION WITH A SPECIAL ADULT. FOR MANY AT TC THESE SAFE ADULTS ARE OFFICER LARRIOS, OFFICER ARGETTA, AND THE OTHER SRO'S. THEY HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND IN THEIR ROLES CREATING POSITIVE EXPERIENCES. NOW I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO JESSIE MAZER. >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS JESSIE MAZER. I'M THE PRINCIPAL OF GEORGE WASHINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND I'M PLEASED TO SPEAK TO THE GREAT ASSIGNED SRO'S THIS. MY HUMBLE OPINION THE ROLES OF THE SRO'S IN OUR SCHOOL EXEMPLIFIES THE RELATIONSHIP AMONG GW STUDENT AND STAFF IS BASED TO THE POWER OF RELATIONAL CONNECTEDNESS AND GETTING TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER, STRONG COMMUNICATION, AND TRUST, WHICH DEFINES THE SOCIAL GOOD THAT SRO'S SEEK OUT IN SERVICE OF THEIR BADGE AND UNIFORM WHILE IN OUR SCHOOLS. AND THEY'RE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE STUDENTS AND THE STAFF SEE THEM AS SUCH. WE CANNOT IGNORE THE RIGHTFUL INDIGNATION SURROUNDING BAD ACTOR WAS A BADGE AND THE ABUSE AROUND POLICING HAS TAKEN ITS PLACE WITH COMMUNITIES ENGAGED AND MEANINGFUL AND RICH CONVERSATIONS AROUND POLICING. IN FACT, WE KNOW THAT ABUSE BROUGHT TO LIGHT BY DASHCAMS AND ABUSE OF POWER. WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT THIS ABUSE OF POWER MUST COME TO AN IMMEDIATE END. WITH THE ROLE OF THE SRO'S, SRO'S PERFORMING GOOD ACTS IN OUR SCHOOLS IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT PRESENCE AND ROLE OF THE.SRO THE ROLE OF THE SRO'S AND IN THAT PIPELINE AND HAVING WORKED IN SCHOOLS FOR 20 YEARS, I'M FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT THIS TROUBLING PHENOMENON DOES NOT BEGIN WITH THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT OCCURRING WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS OR WITH AN SRO. SADLY, THE SCHOOL PRISON PIPELINEN REFLECTS A VERY COMPLEX SOCIAL LOGICAL WEB THAT, IN MANY EFFECTS OF A SOCIOLOGICAL WEB THAT, IN MANY EFFECTS, HELPS US WITH BASIC RESOURCES INCLUDING: FOOD, SHELTER, AND HEALTH. AND THEY ARE NOT A CATALYST FOR THIS OR THE DISPROPORTION IN THE OF STUDENTS OF COLOR. IN FACT, TO THIS POINT AS PETE MADE, SRO'S PLAY NO ROLE, ABSOLUTELY NO ROLE IN HOW DISCIPLINE IS ADMINISTERED AT GW. OUR SRO'S ON OUR CAMPUSES HELP AND SUPPORT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. AND THEY ARE BROUGHT INTO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE STUDENTS SEE OUR SRO'S AT TRUSTED PEOPLE. [00:30:02] THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY AND IS A TESTAMENT TO THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT EXIST BETWEEN OUR SRO'S AND COMMUNITIES. ALLOW ME TO MAKE JUST ONE LAST POINT. SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW I'M FROM THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE AND, UNFORTUNATELY, MILWAUKEE IS A CITY THAT IS A RUSTBELT CITY. IT'S PLAGUED BY POVERTY AND A VERY DIM ECONOMIC FUTURE FOR MANY OF ITS RESIDENTS AND I RAN ONE OF THE TOUGHER HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE CITY, IF NOT THE STATE, IF NOT THE COUNTRY. AND WE DIDN'T HAVE AN SRO ASSIGNED TO THE BUILDING. HOWEVER, THIS, IN NO WAY IMPACTED THE VOLUME OF CALLS TO THE POLICE. AND IT, IN NO WAY IMPACTED, UNFORTUNATELY, THE HIGH NUMBER OF ARRESTS THAT, AGAIN, WERE A FUNCTION OF LARGER SOCIAL ILLS. WHEN SOMETHING OCCURS IN A BUILDING THAT REQUIRES THE PRESENCE OR ACTION OF AN OFFICER AN OFFICER LITTLE REPORT TO THE SCENE. IN MY OPINION, WHEN THAT OFFICER IS IS NOT A STRANGER BUT RATHER A KNOWN INDIVIDUAL, THE SITUATION VERY OFTEN HAS A DIFFERENT OUTCOME. NOT ALL THE TIME BUT VERY OFTEN, MUCH DIFFERENT OUTCOME. SO THANK YOU. AND MS. PETERS? >> THANK YOU, JESSIE. SO I DO HAVE TO REITERATE THE STATEMENT OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS ARE NOT ENGAGED IN DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES. THE GUIDELINES REGARDING ADMINISTRATIVE DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES ARE THOROUGHLY OUTLINED IN THE A CPS CODE OF CONDUCT. WHILE THE MAJORITY OF DISCIPLINARY INFRACTIONS ARE HANDLED BY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO REITERATE THAT SOMETIMES CRIME DOES OCCUR IN SCHOOLS. SO I DO HAVE TO STRESS THAT THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT IMPLY THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE NOT SAFE. OUR SCHOOLS ARE VERY SAFE. OUR SCHOOLS ARE SAFE BECAUSE OF THE NUMEROUS COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS THAT OCCUR, NOT ONLY WITHIN A CPS, BUT BECAUSE AND WE HAVE MADE AN EFFORT TO SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING NOT ONLY BEFORE VIRTUAL PLUS BUT DURING VIRTUAL PLUS THROUGH ADVISORY LESSONS, SCHOOL ARE GROUPS, COMMUNITY PRACTICES, FIELD TIME I MEAN, COMMUNITY CIRCLES, FIELD TIME AND INVOLVEMENT IN CLASSROOM LESSONS. AND SO AS AN ADMINISTRATOR I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH AMAZING SRO'S AT GW AND MY VERY ONLY OFFICER LEAKE AND HAMMOND AND HAVE WITNESSED THE SRO'S WHICH IS COMMUNITY POLICING. I'VE WITNESSED THEM BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS, MENTORS AND ALSO BECOME TRUSTED FIGURES IN OUR SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THEIR TRUSTED REPRESENTATION AND THEIR POSITIVE REPRESENTATION OF THE SRO IN OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS, IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES IS INTEGRAL IN CREATING A SAFE AND SECURE SCHOOL COMMUNITY WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS. NOW, THE LAST NINE I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IS THAT, IN ADDITION TO CREATING A SAFE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT OUR SRO'S ARE INTRAINDICATELY IN THE CODE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR SCHOOL SAFETY PLAN OUR CRISIS MANAGEMENT PLANS THAT HELP US DEVELOP THE OVERALL ASSESSMENT IN MAINTAINING OUR SAFE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS. AND SO IT IS GREATER THAN JUST DISCIPLINE. IT IS GREATER THAN JUST CREATING A SAFE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT. >> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH AND WE'LL HAVE THIS BEFORE WE HAVE THE Q&A. AND I WANT TO GO OVER THE SLIDE THE NEXT SLIDE AND SO BEFORE WE GET INTO THE Q&A I JUST WANT TO PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT. BECAUSE I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN SOME AND THE PRINCIPAL HAVE'S CLARIFIED A LOT OF IT, AS FAR AS WHAT DISCIPLINE LOOKS LIKE IN THE SCHOOLS. I JUST WANT TO SAY THE MOU IS NOT A CONTRACT. YOU'VE HEARD THAT TERM BEFORE. SO SOME SOME PEOPLE ASSUME THAT, IF THE IF THE MOU GOES AWAY THEN SRO'S GO AWAY OR THAT SORT OF THING. IT DOESN'T REALLY WORK THAT WAY. IT'S A GUIDE. THE MOU AND EVEN WITHOUT A MOU THEY WILL STILL RESPOND TO ACPS. [00:35:02] AND JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND BECAUSE CRIMES WILL OCCUR IN AND AROUND SCHOOLS. INVESTIGATIONS CAN ALSO CLEAR A STUDENT OF WRONGDOING. I THINK I THINK OFFICER LATTION SAID IT BEST. HE USES DISCRETION. OFFICERS USE DISCRETION ALL THE TIME. THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO AND ARREST EVERYBODY EVERY TIME. THERE'S A LEGAL OFFENSE OCCURRING. THEY USE THEIR DISCRETION. THEY WORK WITH ADMINISTRATORS, THEY MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS DISCRETION THERE. SO IT'S NOT ALWAYS TO TARGET A CRIMINAL A CRIME. ALSO, SCHOOLS ARE VULNERABLE TARGETS. I DON'T HAVE TO REALLY GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT THAT. IT'S IT'S NOT AS VULNERABLE MAYBE AS A MALL OR CHURCH BECAUSE THOSE ARE WIDE OPEN FACILITIES. BUT THAT'S THE CONTEXT OF THAT STATEMENT THERE. ALSO, RECENT FAVORABLE CLIMATE SURVEYS. THE REASON I PUT THAT IN THERE WAS BECAUSE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 2018 HIGH SCHOOL SURVEY AND THE 2020 HIGH SCHOOL SURVEY, THE FAVORABILITY FOR THE SRO MAKES ME FEEL SAFER IT WAS 56% IN 2018 AND IT WENT UP TO 68% IN 2020. SO THAT'S MY INTERPRETATION AS A FAVOR FAVORABLE CLIMATE SURVEY. AND WITH THAT, CHAIR ANDERSON AND DR. HUTCHINGS, THE FLORENCE IS OPEN FOR QUESTIONS. >> GREAT. THAT WAS VERY ENLIGHTENING. THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR STICKING WITH US UNTIL THIS TIME AT NIGHT TO DISCUSS THIS. I HAVE MS. GENTRY UP FIRST. >> YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR STICKING AROUND AND FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DOING OVER THE YEARS. I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING SOME OF THE WORK YOU'VE ALL BEEN DOING, I'VE ALSO BEEN TO EVENING PRESENTATIONS SOMETIMES WHERE SRO'S HAVE GIVEN PRESENTATIONS TO FAMILIES. AND I'VE SEEN HOW THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO REASSURE SOMETIMES FAMILIES THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, FEELING ANXIETY ABOUT THINGS. AND I THINK THIS IS A NATION WIDE ISSUE AND IMPORTANT FOR EVERY COMMUNITY TO FLACK AND MANY OF OUR MEMBERS HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS. ONE THING I WAS TRYING TO DO AS I WAS CONSIDERING THIS WAS TRY TO FIND OUT IF I WAS TRYING TO SEEK OUT IF PEOPLE PEOPLE WHERE AN SRO THERE WAS AN INAPPROPRIATE INCIDENT IS OR THERE WAS AN INCIDENT OF A REAL HEAVY HAND. I TRIED IN DIFFERENT WAYS TO POKE AROUND IN THAT. I WASN'T ABLE TO REALLY COME UP WITH A PARTICULAR EXAMPLE. A FEW THINGS THAT STUDENTS OR FORMER STUDENTS SHARED WITH ME WAS THEY COULD THINK OF INSTANCES WHERE, IN A CLASSROOM SETTING, THERE WAS MAYBE A MOMENT WHERE THERE WAS A VERBAL ALTERCATION OF SOME KIND BETWEEN A TEACHER AND A STUDENT. AND THE TEACHER SOUGHT OUT THE SRO AND AND IN THE OPINION OF SOME OF THE OTHER STUDENTS, IT FELT LIKE FELT LIKE OVERKILL. AND THERE IS THE CATEGORY OF THAT GOES INTO THAT FORM OF DISRESPECTIVE BEHAVIOR. THAT SEEMS TO BE A SPOT WHERE WE STRUGGLE. WHEN THERE'S A CLEAR INFRACTION, THERE'S A CLEAR INFRACTION AND THERE'S NOT MUCH DEBATE ABOUT THAT. SO WHAT THAT KIND OF LED ME TO THINK IS THAT MAYBE THIS IS LESS ABOUT THE ACTUAL WORDING OF THE MOU AND REALLY BEING JUST ABUNDANTLY CLEAR ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION. AND, IN THIS SENSE, IT'S LESS ABOUT THE SRO BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE SRO IS, YOU KNOW, IN THE INSTANCE THAT I GAVE IS MINDING THEIR OWN BUSINESS AND THEY'RE BEING CALLED BY A TEACHER TO COME IN TO COME IN AND LOOK AT THAT INFRACTION. [00:40:04] AND WHEN I LOOK AT SLIDE SIX, AND I'M WONDERING IF ONE THING WE CAN CONSIDER DOING IS SENDING THAT TO THE TEENS AT OUR SECONDARY SCHOOLS. AND ALSO MAYBE NOT THE SAME LEVEL BUT I JUST THINK MAYBE WE NEED SOME SOME GREATER CLARITY AND FIDELITY ACROSS THE BOARD OF EXPECTATIONS FOR THE TEACHERS ABOUT WHEN IS YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN YOU NEED SUPPORT IN YOUR CLASSROOM IN HANDLING A SITUATION WITH A STUDENT. WHEN IS IT THAT YOU SHOULD BE SEEKING HELP FROM YOUR SCHOOL COLLEAGUES, VERSUS THE VANISHLY SMALL INSTANCES WHEN YOU SHOULD BE GOING TO A SOR? SO WHEN I LOOK AT THE LANGUAGE, THAT'S REALLY THE KIND OF THING THAT I WANT TO SEE THAT THAT THAT WE PUT A FOCUS ON. AND I THINK THAT THERE ARE CHANGES HERE AND I THINK THAT THERE IS A COMMITMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE THAT THE KIDS DO FEEL SAFE ABOUT SRO'S AND THAT LEGALLY BY THE STATE, WE ARE REQUIRED TO REVIEW THIS EVERY TWO YEARS, I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST IN THIS INSTANCE AS WE'RE MAKING THESE QUITE A FEW EDITS AND REVISIONS HERE, IF WE COULD REVIEW THIS IN ONE YEAR, IT WOULD GIVE US A CHANCE TO SEE HOW THE DATA IS WORKING AND IF THERE IS A FEEDBACK ON HOW SOME OF THE CHANGES ARE WORKING. SO THOSE ARE MY TWO POINTS. AGAIN I WANT TO REALLY THANK EVERYONE THAT STUCK AROUND TO SHARE YOUR STORIES, BOTH BOTH THE SRO'S AND OUR PRINCE PALS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I SEE THAT CHIEF BROWN HAS HIS HAND RAISED AND WE DID NOT HEAR FROM HIM. WE TALKED ABOUT HIS STAYING AROUND ALL THE TIME BUT WE DID NOT HEAR FROM HIM. CHIEF BROWN? >> THANK YOU. BY THE WAY I'M NOT THE STAR OF THIS SHOW IT IS FOLKS LIKE DONNIE AND GARY. THEY DO A REMARKABLE JOB WITH THE SRO PROGRAM. A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY AT LEAST IN MY SHORT TIME AS CHIEF. THE LAST GENERATION OF THE MOU BEFORE THIS, IT WAS NOT SPECIFICALLY CLEAR IN TERMSFUL INVOLVEMENT OF OUR OFFICERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES. AND AS A RESULT THERE WAS A TENDENCY IN SOME CASES FOR US TO BE TELLING PEOPLE THEY COULDN'T WEAR A HAT OR SOME OF THE OTHER KIND OF THINGS. MAN, I HEARD THAT FROM THE SRO'S. THEY DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING THAT, EITHER. SO WE TOOK THIS MOU MOU AND WE MADE IT BETTER. I BELIEVE MS. GENTRY IS ON POINT ON THIS BASIS. WHILE I WAS WAITING, I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH IN RESPONSE TO A LETTER THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME BY MR. MCGEARY, OUR COUNCILMAN. ONE OF THE ISSUES HE BROUGHT UP IS THE RESOURCE OFFICERS AREA. A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY ON THAT AND THIS KIND OF IS IN MY REALM OF ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE. A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE KIDS, THERE IS DELINQUENCY RESEARCH GOING BACK AS FAR AS 1930'S WITH THE CHICAGO PROJECT. IN MANY CASES THAT WAS A LONGITUDE ASSESSMENT OF OF AN ASSESSMENT AND DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR AT SOME POINT THAT IT SPEAKS TO WHAT A NUMBER OF YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, THE NUMBER OF SOCIO ECONOMIC ISSUES THAT WERE PRESENT. IT IS NOT NECESSARILY A SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE. THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER FACTORS THAT ARE IN THERE. AS TO SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS THEY REALLY EMERGED IN THIS BUSINESS AFTER THE 1990'S AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE CLINTIN CRIME BILL. THAT'S WHEN THEY WERE BUYING 100,000 NEW COPS AND THEY DECIDED THEY WANTED THEM TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS INCLUDING BEEFING THEM UP IN THE SCHOOLS. AND SINCE THAT TIME, THERE'S BEEN A IT'S POPPED UP IN THE SECURITY PIECE AND EVERYTHING ELSE. I'VE SEEN THE EVOLUTION OF THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS. WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THE RESEARCH IS VERY THIN. [00:45:01] MANY OF THE EARLY RESEARCH THAT WAS DONE IN THE 90S, QUITE FRANKLY, WAS CASE STUDIES. THERE'S ONE STUDY THAT WAS SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES, WHICH IS INVOLVED 19 DEPARTMENTS, NONE OF THEM GENERALIZED TO US, THE DEPARTMENTS, THEY DON'T LOOK ANYTHING LIKE WE DO, OR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THERE WAS A LOT OF AWFUL LOT OF SURVEY STUFF INVOLVING LEIKHERT SCALES AND A LOT OF STUFF LIKE DATASCALES THEY THEY TRIED TO CODE AND THEY WERE FRANKLY VERY WEAK. THE BEST STUDY WAS RELEASED THIS YEAR. IT WAS AN NIJ STUDY AND MIXED METHOD STUDY. THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT LOOKING AT NOT ONLY WHAT IS RESPONSIVE TO THE KIDS, BUT ALSO WHAT IS RESPONSIVE TO THE SCHOOL. AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THE BIG RECOMMENDATIONS THEY MADE OUT OF THAT WAS, NUMBER ONE, THE OFFICERS SHOULD NOT BE ENGAGED IN ADMINISTRATIVE DISCIPLINE AND SHOULD ONLY BE INVOLVED IN CRIMINAL CASES, TA DA. WE'RE ONE STEP AHEAD OF THAT. AND THEN THE OTHER PIECE IS THE OFFICERS SHOULDN'T BE TRAINED. AND, IN THIS STATE, IN ORDER TO BE AN SRO, HAVE YOU TO BE CERTIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES GOING THROUGH THEIR TRAINING WHICH, BY THE WAY, IS A TRAINING FOR SRO'S AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS. IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM FOR WHOEVER NEEDS TO BE IN THERE FROM THE SCHOOLS, SO THEY CAN UNDERSTAND HOW THAT RELATIONSHIP IS SUPPOSED TO WORK AS BEST AS IT CAN. BUT THE PEOPLE THAT REALLY MAKE THIS WORK IN MY VIEW ARE PEOPLE LIKE JOHNNY AND GARY. BECAUSE THEY'RE OUT THERE WITH THESE KIDS. I'VE SEEP THE RELATIONSHIP OCCASIONALLY. I DON'T GET TO SEE IT EVERY DAY. BUT I'VE SEEN THEM WORK WITH THESE KIDS. I SEE THESE GUYS ARE LIKE MAGNETS. THESE KIDS COME UP AND WANT TO HANG WITH THEM. AND THAT TAKES A SPECIAL PERSON TO DO THAT. AND LET ME ALSO ADD ONE OTHER THING. I GET ASKED THIS A LOT SINCE THIS WHOLE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE SRO'S AND THE SCHOOL. IF WE HAVE A CRIME AND WE DON'T HAVE AN SRO, YOU'RE GOING TO GET ON OFFICER FROM THE BEAT. THE OFFICER FROM THE BEAT MAY NOT BE AS SKILLED AS THESE GENTLEMEN AND THEIR COLLEAGUES ARE, IN TERMS OF HOW TO WORK IN THAT SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT. WE HAD A COMPLAINT AGAINST ONE OF OUR OFFICERS WHO WAS CALLED TO ONE OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND HE JUST DIDN'T DO IT RIGHT BECAUSE HE DIDN'T ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS. NO ONE GOT KILLED IN THE PROCESS. WE SAW IT AS A TEACHABLE MOMENT. BUT THAT HAPPENS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT OUT THERE WITH THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEY ARE JUST COMING UP TO TAKE THE REPORT F. I'M NOT AREA I MAY TAKE A RESPOND RESPOND AND TAKE A REPORT AND THAT SHOULD FRIGHTEN ALL OF YOU. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM AND, FOR US, IT GIVES US A GOOD OPPORTUNITY AND WE'RE PEOPLE AND WE'RE PEOPLE, TOO. WE'RE NOT JUST PEOPLE WEARING A BADGE AND TOTING A GUN. AND THAT IS THE ESSENCE. AS MANY OF YOU SAID, IT IS COMMUNITY POLICING. IF WE CAN PUT THAT ON THERE THAT WILL ESTABLISH THE RELATIONSHIPS AND SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT THAT CAN LAST FOR GENERATIONS. I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LET LARRY AND JOHNNY TALK ABOUT THEIR DAY. I THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THIS. I THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO ECHO WHAT YOUR PRINCIPALS SAID. I THINK THIS IS A GOOD PROGRAM AND SHOULD BE HERE TO STAY. ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM. >> AND NEXT UP I HAVE DR. LEEFE. >> THANK YOU, OFFICER BROWN AND THE OFFICERS WHO CAME TO SHARE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE. IT REALLY WAS VERY VALUABLE TO HEAR FROM YOU. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU FOR BEING HERE. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT NONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT I'M GOING TO MAKE RIGHT NOW THIS EVENING ARE MEANT AS AN ASSESSMENT OF ANY PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL OR ANYBODY'S CHARACTER. THIS IS REALLY, YOU KNOW, SCS HAS BEEN HERE TO TALK ABOUT POLICY AND OUR INSTITUTIONSAL PRACTICES AND HOW WE DECIDE AS TO ALLOCATE OUR RESOURCES AS A CITY AND A SCHOOL DIVISION. AND I DO APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN SHARED WITH US. AND I APPRECIATE THE EDITS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE MOU. I THINK THE CHALLENGE TO ME, IT DOESN'T REALLY DOCUMENT WHAT THE SRO'S ARE DOING AND THE COMMUNITY IS ASKING US FOR GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY. AS YOU MENTIONED 40 OF THE 81 RESPONDENTS TO THE SEARCH HAVE SAID WE SHOULD END THE PROGRAM. AS YOU ALSO MENTIONED WE'RE GETTING LETTERS FROM SOME OF OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE ASKING US TO REALLY REEVALUATE THIS PARTNERSHIP. [00:50:03] SO YOU KNOW, I REALLY FEEL A RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THAT. WHAT THE DATA TELLS ME WHAT THE DATA WHICH WAS PRESENTED TO US, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF CRIME IN OUR SCHOOLS, TO THE POINT THAT'S BEEN MADE. I'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT HOW SRO'S ARE NOT INVOLVED IN DISCIPLINE. AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT. I LOOK AT THAT DATA BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE MODEL MOU FROM THE VIRGINIA CRIMINAL DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS IT'S ONE OF THE DATA POINTS THEY TELL US TO LOOK AT. SO I'M LOOKING AT IT. AND I SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, SUSPENSION OPINION DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT BLACK STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION. THAT'S A PROBLEM. WHATEVER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT, THAT IS A PROBLEM THAT WE'VE GOT TO CORRECT IN THIS SCHOOL DIVISION. AND THE SCHOOL CLIMATE SURVEY AND I WANT TO POINT OUT WE SAMPLED 100 STUDENTS BECAUSE WE SENT OUT A RANDOM SATCHEL. A COUPLE OF THINGS CAME TO ME FOR THAT. ONE IN 50% DON'T THINK THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THE SAME FOR ALL STUDENTS. OFFICIAL A THIRD SAID STUDENTS ARE NOT TREATED FAIRLY REGARDLESS OF RACE AND 1/4 SAID THAT SRO'S DO NOT MAKE THEM FEEL SAFER AT SCHOOL. SO THERE WAS A POINT WHERE MR. CONTRARAS WAS TALKING ABOUT DISCRETION. THAT IS A GRAY AREA THAT I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT. BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TIME TO ISSUE WHETHER IT'S A SUSPENSION OR CRIMINAL CHARM, YOU KNOW, HOW IS THAT DISCRETION BEING APPLIED? AND YOU KNOW, WE ANY WAY WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS A FAIR PROCESS IS SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US INCORPORATE AND TO THIS MOU, IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE IT. BUT, YOU KNOW, MY TAKE AWAY IS I DON'T BELIEVE OUR SCHOOLS ARE DANGEROUS PLACES OR THAT WE NEED POLICE IN OUR SCHOOLS TO MAINTAIN SAFETY YOU KNOW, THE SRO PROGRAM IS CUTTING THE CITY APPROXIMATELY $850,000 A YEAR. AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS T THOUGHTS I COME BACK TO. WE HAVE 44 SCHOOL OF SECURITY OFFICERS THAT WE ARE PAYING FOR OUT OF THE APS BUMET. I THINK, IF THE SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICERS ARE RECEIVING PROPER TRAINING AND SUPERVISION AND ARE BEING CAREFULLY SELECTED AS YOU PRESENTED THAT THE SRO'S ARE, I FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT IN OUR SCHOOLS. AND JUST KIND OF LASTLY THERE WAS ONE OF THE SURVEY COMMENTS. I READ THROUGH ALL OF THE SURVEY COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED AND ONE THAT STOOD OUT TO ME AND I WANT TO READ IT: "WE MUST ALSO ADMIT FOR MANY CHILDREN THE MERE PRESENCE OF UNIFORMED OFFICERS IS SOMETIMES A STRESSFUL EXPERIENCE AND MANY CHILDREN HAVE SEEN THE LAST YEAR, OFFICERS ASSAULT AMERICANS, OFTEN PEOPLE OF COLOR TO THE MEDIA. IT MAY TAKE YEARS OR LONGER TO TO RELIEVE THIS TRUST AND IT MAY TAKE YEARS TO MAKE STUDENTS FEEL SAFE AND SOME MAY FEAR FOR THEIR SAFETY AND LIFE AND THIS DOES NOT FOSTER A GOOD LEARNING ENVIRONMENT." AND I KNOW THAT AGAIN THIS, IS NOT AN ASSESSMENT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL. BUT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT. AS A SCHOOL BOARD WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS DUAL PANDEMIC THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING. AND WE HAVE THIS STRATEGIC PLAN THAT LAYS OUT CENTERING RACIAL EQUITY THAT PRIORITIZES TRAUMA AND INFORMED CARE AND REMOVING BARRIERS TO LEARNING. AND SO I'M THINKING, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION THAT I BASICALLY HAVE IS HOW ARE THESE VALUES AND GOALS REFLECTED IN THIS REVIEW PROCESS OF THIS MOU AND THE SRO PROGRAM? BECAUSE I DON'T I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S BEEN VERY EXPLICIT, AND OF AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DOING A EDIT AND I THINK WE SHOULD DO POLICIES THAT WE DON'T HAVE. AND THEN THIS MOU SHOULD BE ALIGNED WITH OUR POLICY. I KNOW WE HAVE POLICIES THAT MIGHT TOUCH ON THAT MIGHT MENTION SRO'S IN THEM. WE DON'T HAVE A POLICY THAT EMPOWERS THE SUPERINTENDENT IN TURN TO THE AGREEMENT. SO THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS AND I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THIS IF THIS WAS A PART OF THIS REVIEW PROCESS, MR. CONTRARAS. [00:55:05] >> THANK YOU, DR. LEEFE. THAT IS A VERY GOOD QUESTION. IT DID NOT COME UP VERY OFTEN. THE EQUITY DISCUSSION DID COME UP A LOT. BUT GOING THROUGH THE STRATEGIC PLAN, SECTION BY SECTION TO SEE WHERE WE COULD ADDRESS IT IN THE MOU DID NOT COME UP. THE MOU WILL BE USED TO COLLECT TOOLS AND INFORMATION AND WE'RE GOING TO GET BETTER AT IT. WE'RE IN A PROCESS OF DEVELOPING THE NEW PROCESS OF DEVELOPING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE MOU AND SRO IN GENERAL. SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OUR PARTNERS GOING FORWARD AND WE WILL THE HOPE IS TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS ANY EQUITY CONCERNS THAT DO COME UP WHILE MAINTAINING SAFETY WITH THIS. >> DR. HUTCHINGS, I SEE THAT YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP. >> YEAH. SO ONE THING I JUST WANTED TO ADD ON TO WHAT ARE DR. AND THAT DR. REEFE MADE AND THE POINT THAT DR. REEFE MADE AND SHE MADE THIS AT THE LAST SESSION, THE DATA TO DETERMINE IF IT IS WORKING OR IT IS NOT WORKING. IT CAN GO BOTH WAYS. I REALLY DO THINK WE HAVE ANECDOTAL INFORMATION FROM THE STORIES AND CONVERSATIONS AND THINGS THAT WE HAVE. WEIGH MAY NEED TO BE MORE INTENTIONAL IN IDENTIFYING WHAT IS THE ACTUAL DATA SOURCE OR DATA COLLECTION THAT IS GOING TO OCCUR, WHAT PERIOD OF TIME WOULD THAT OCCUR? AND THEN WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE A TRUE ANALYSIS OF WHETHER WE BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, THIS PARTNERSHIP IS GIVING US WHAT WE'RE WHAT WE'RE DESIRING TO HAVE. OUT OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAVE OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT CHIEF BROWN AND I HAVE HAD, OUR GOAL REALLY HAS BEEN TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE OUR OUR SRO'S, YOU KNOW, IN OUR YOU KNOW, IT HAS CHANGED THE STORIES AND THE STORIES ARE REAL. I'M NOT NEGATING POLICING. IT'S REALLY. IT TRULY DOES HAPPEN. BUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, I BELIEVE, IS TRYING TO HAVE THE POLICE THAT COME IN AND SERVE AND NOT THOSE WHO PROVIDE INEQUITIES IN OUR BUILDINGS. I THINK WHAT MS. REEFE BROUGHT UP WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT OUR DISCIPLINE DATA. THAT IS SEPARATE I SAID THIS AT OUR LAST MEETING BEFORE. THAT IS AN ISSUE THAT I ALSO SHARED THAT IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE REFERRALS THAT ARE BEING WRITTEN AND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR CLASSROOMS AND SRO'S HAVE ABSOLUTELY [01:00:05] NOTHING TO DO WITH IT AT THAT POINT. THAT'S LIKE AN INTERNAL PROBLEM THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS SOONER THAN LATER. I FLEA IT WILL BE THROUGH OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS OR PLAN. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THOSE POINTS THAT I WANTED TO VALIDATE THAT WE DON'T HAVE IS AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN HAVE THOSE DATA POINTS AND WHAT IT IS SAYING RIGHT NOW AND WE HAVE THOSE DATA POINTS. >> THANK YOU. AND I GO ALONG WITH DR. REEFE, MY PERSONAL ASSESSMENTS OF THE PROGRAM HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU. CLEARLY I FEEL YOU BOTH BELONG IN A HIGH SCHOOL DOING SOMETHING. PERHAPS, I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU AS A COUNSELOR. I HAVE A FEELING ABOUT GUNS IN SCHOOLS, I HAVE A FEELING ABOUT FIRST, I JUST WANT TO SAY, SIMPLY, THAT MOSTLY EVERYTHING THAT DR. REEFE SAID, I AGREE WITH. SO I'LL JUST GIVE A FEW LITTLE COMPLIMENTARY COMMENTS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE TROUBLED ME FOR YEARS I WORKED INSIDE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR NINE YEARS. WHEN WE BROUGHT IN THE SRO PROGRAM AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, SUDDENLY, WE HAVE POLICE CARS EVERY. WHERE AND I HAVE TO SAY I DO BUY IN, TO SOME DEGREE, TO THE TO THE WILL SUGGESTION THAT, FOR SOME PEOPLE, JUST SEEING POLICE CARS GETS THEIR HEART RATES UP. AND I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE AND I INFORM BREAK THE LAW. I ADMIT IT. I SEE A POLICE CAR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I'M LIKE, OOH. HAVE I DONE SOMETHING? AND I'M A STRONG PROPONENT OF POLICING AND I THINK THAT THE $800,000 THAT WE'RE SPENDING ON THE SRO'S WOULD BE SPENT ON ALL OF OUR POLICE, COMPETENCY. AND THERE ARE ANY NUMBER OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMS THAT TRAIN POLICE TO DEAL WITH ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT SITUATIONS. SO, FOR EXAMPLE I KEEP FORGETTING WHAT YOUR TITLE IS, MR. BROWN, CAPTAIN >> CHIEF. >> WHEN YOU WERE SAYING IT IS BETTER FOR US TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE MR. LATTARAS AND OFFICER ARGETTA THAT IF SOMEONE ELSE CAME IN THEY WEREN'T SO WELL TRAINED. WELL, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT ALL OF THE OFFICERS IN THE CITY NO AUDIO. >> YOU FROZE. >> AND SHOULD BE ABSOLUTELY CAPABLE OF DOING THIS IN OUR CITY. AM I TAKING TOO LONG? >> NO, YOU WERE FROZEN AND YOUR VOICE WAS >> OKAY. I WILL SKIP TO >> AND EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE >> OKAY. I WOULD JUST SAY I I OKAY. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW OR NOT? >> YES, WE CAN. >> AM I FROZEN? >> NOPE. VIDEO AND AUDIO ARE A FROZEN? >> NO, NO. THEY'RE BOTH WORKING. >> NO, EVERYTHING IS WORKING. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO SAY I CAN PROVIDE A STORY JUST AS COMPELLING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF SEVERAL YEARS AGO IN 2006 AND 2007 WHEN I WAS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, THE SRO AT GEORGE WASHINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS NOT SOMEONE WHO I THOUGHT SHOULD BE IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. THEY PEOPLE DIDN'T CERT PEOPLE FELT VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT OFFICER AND CERTAIN PEOPLE DIDN'T FEEL THAT COMFORTABLE N. SOME WAYS, THIS IS SORT OF AN ANECDOTAL APPROACH. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH A PARTICULAR SRO. YOU TWO ARE OUTSTANDING. AND FINALLY GETTING DOWN TO SPECIFICS ONE OF THE THINGS IN THE MOU THAT IT TALKS ABOUT WAS THAT AND AND WITH THE COURT SYSTEM I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT AN SRO COULD HAVE IS TO RUN THAT INTERFERENCE AND MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS ARE NOT GETTING SENT INTO THE COURT SYSTEM WHEN OTHER THINGS CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT THAT. >> AND I KNOW YOU MENTIONED ABOUT KEEPING PEOPLE OUT OF THE COURT SYSTEM. I THIS I THAT WAS VERY INTERESTING AND EXCITING WHAT YOU HAD. [01:05:03] >> YOU KNOW, IN 2017 WE ADOPTED THE POLICE CHIEF APPROACH. YOU'RE WELCOME TO LOOK AT THE PLAN. IT'S POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE. WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE ON THAT SHORTLY. A GOOD PART OF THAT IS TO DO EXACTLY WITH A YOU'RE SUGGESTING IN TERMS OF DIVERSION. AND THE WAY THE STATUTES ARE WRITTEN, IN SOME CASES WE HAVE DATA THAT IS DISPROPORTIONATE, TOO. AND THE SUPERINTENDENT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, WE CAN'T BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS OF ACPS. WE CAN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING IN TERMS OF AN ARREST. IN FACT, WE PICK UP ON THAT ALL THE TIME. AND AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE DOING DEEP DIVES IN OUR DATA RIGHT NOW IN OUR ARREST DATA AND IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO I'M HOPING TO GET SOMETHING PUBLISHED THAT WILL EXPLAIN THAT. AND AN INTERESTING POINT. YOU HAVE A POINT OF ARREST INVOLVING AFRICAN AMERICANS AND LATINOS MOSTLY FOR PETTY LARCENY MOSTLY AT TWO COMMERCIAL LOCATIONS IN THE CITY. SO WE WENT OUT AND TALKED TO THEM AND SAID, HEY. DO YOU REALIZE THAT YOU HAPPEN TO BE ARRESTING MORE LATINOS AND AFRICAN AMERICANS? THEY HAD NO CLUE. IT WAS THEY WERE JUST DOING THEIR LOSS AND PREVENTION STRATEGY. WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE CITY AND TWO YEARS AGO, PUT OURSELVES IN A DEMONSTRATION AND I THINK WITH A IS FRUSTRATING WITH MY OFFICERS ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB LIKE JOHNNY AND THE REST OF THEM AND PEOPLE PUT A NARRATIVE, ALL COPS BACKED COPS. AND THAT'S HOW IT GETS TAKEN, TO BE FRANK. AND WE DON'T GET CREDIT FOR THE GOOD WORK THAT WE DO. FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE HAD, SINCE JUNE, OUR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON OUR WEB PAGE IN RESPONSE TO THE QUESTIONS WE WERE GETTING FOLLOWING THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD. AND WHEN WE FIRST DID IT WE HAD A LOT OF WEB HITS ON THOSE FAQ'S AND THE QUESTIONS WENT AWAY. IN THE LAST SIX WEEKS, WE'VE HAD IT'S TRICKLED DOWN TO NOTHING. SO EITHER EVERYONE IS WELL EDUCATED ON APD OR THEY JUST DON'T CARE ANYMORE. BIGGEST FEAR THAT I HAVE I'VE DONE THIS NOW FOUR TIMES IN MY CAREER. OCTOBER 1 WAS 45 YEARS OF HANGING AROUND COPS. AND I TOLD POLITICAL LEADERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS AND I'LL SAY THE SAME THING TO YOU: I DON'T WANT THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN IN POLICING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH IT AGAIN. AND IT TAKES SOME POLITICAL COURAGE TO FIX IT. AND WE NEED TO FIX IT AND IT'S DEEP. IT'S NOT JUST THE COPS. COMPANY GIVE YOU COUNTLESS THINGS OF WHERE THE SYSTEM IS SET UP AND THE SOCIAL ECONOMIC ISSUES THAT TAKE PLACE. THE COP GETS THE 911 CALL THEY ROLL IN AND THEY GET THE NUMBER AND WE HAVE TO TRY AND EXPLAIN AND IT'S SAD BE AND THEY AND THEIR COLLEAGUES LIKE THEM AND IF YOU GIVE ME A SECOND I'LL LIST THEM, TOO, WHO DO IT ON THEIR OWN. WE HAVE A BIG COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM. WE HAVE SEVEN CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS IN THIS CITY. WE HAVE SOMEONE ASSIGNED TO THEM AND THEY MEET WITH ONE OF THEM EVERY MONTH AND MORE FREQUENTLY IF THEY ASK. I GET TO SEE ALL THE REPORTS. WILL AND WE WILL RESPECT WHATEVER DECISION YOU MAKE. AND WE WILL SUPPORT YOUR DECISION AND IT COSTS YOU NOTHING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FUNDS IT AND IF YOU DON'T WANT THEM, I CAN USE THEIR OFFICERS SOMEYELL. YOU LOSE JERRY AND THE OTHER OFFICE YES AND SERGEANT. YOUR CALL. THAT'S MY FEAR AND I DON'T WANT PEOPLE RUSHING TO JUDGMENT ON THIS STUFF AND I DON'T WANT THESE OFFICERS CAUGHT UP IN THE NARRATIVE AND THAT IS NOT FAIR TO THEM AND I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY WANT TO HAVE. >> OKAY. WE STILL HAVE A LIST OF HANDS RAISED. [01:10:01] NEXT IS MS. THORNTON. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY REDUCING THE FAIR THAT HAS PLAGUED MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. I DO ENJOY HEARING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE SOCCER PROGRAM THAT OFFICERS LARRIOS AND LAGETTA HAVE STARTED AT TC AND THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY. I WAS PART OF A PROTEST THIS SUMMER WHERE THERE WERE TWO OFFICERS LEADING CHANTS WITH OUR STUDENTS. SO I ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF THAT AND I DO APPRECIATE IT. AND I'M WONDERING, DOES THAT INVOLVEMENT HAVE POLICE PREENSENCE IN OUR SCHOOLS? AND I THINK THAT THOSE ACTIVITIES SHOULD CONTINUE REGARDLESS OF THIS MOU. AND I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNE TIME FOR US TO BE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS. AND AS THE DOCTOR SAID EARLIER THIS IS NOT ANYTHING EXCLUSIVE TO THESE OFFICERS OR THE ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT. THIS IS A POLICY DISCUSSION AND ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES DISCUSSION. AND WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUES LIKE THIS, DATA DOESN'T MATTER AND WE DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS TO ANY OF THOSE NOW. JUST LIKE A TRADITION IN MY MIND. WE'VE HAD SRO'S SINCE 1997. AND WITH THE YOUTH THERE WAS A LOT OF FUNDING TOWARD ZERO USE POLICIES AND THIS WAS THE PROGRAM WHICH CREATED. I WAS STRUCK IN THE COMMENT BY THE SURVEY LIKE SOMEONE SAID THE PROGRAM OR THE GENERAL USE OF SRO'S IS AN UNEXAMINED TRADITION FROM A TIME WHEN OUR CONSTITUTIONS WERE FAR LESS AWARE OF SYSTEMATIC AND INSTITUTIONAL INEQUITIES AND THAT IS HOW WE STARTED AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS MUCH MORE AWARE NOW AND I DON'T FOE THAT DATA IS THE CASE ONE QUESTION I WANT TO POSE AND WE DO HAVE THE SCHOOL OFFICERS IN OUR SCHOOLS AND I WANT TO HEAR FROM THE OFFICERS LAGETTA AND ARGOOIAS IF THERE IS OVERLAP THERE. IF YOU COULD TALK ABOUT THAT, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. >> SO, YEAH. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH SECURITY. WILL AND MOST OF THE TIMES, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, THEY'RE THE FIRST PEOPLE THERE. THEY ARE GREAT PEOPLE AND THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING. I WILL ADD THAT, OUR THEIR TRAINING ISN'T UP TO PAR WITH OURS IN THE SENSE THAT IF SOMETHING SERIOUS WERE TO HAPPEN, THEIR REACTION WOULD BE AND WE HAD A PERSON THAT [01:15:13] WAS LOCKED DOWN AND A SECURITY OFFICER THAT WORK WAS US, THEY GOT IN THEIR CAR AND WOULD LEAVE. AND THERE ARE DIFFERENCES. WHEN IT COMES TO SOMETHING REALLY HAPPENING IN THAT SCHOOL THERE, IS A DIFFERENCE. I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY THAT. IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST POINT BETWEEN US. >> OKAY. NEXT UP I HAVE MS. NOLAND. >> THANK SO YOU MUCH, CHAIR ANDERSON. I JUST WANT TO APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE. I HAVE QUITE A BIT OF NOTES. I KNOW IT IS A LONG MEETING AND I AM SORRY. BUT THIS IS A TOPIC I'M EXCEPTIONALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT. SO PLEASE BEAR WITH ME AND THANK YOU. I WANT TO SAY THANK TO YOU PRINCIPAL BALLAST, PETERS AND PRINCIPAL MAZER FOR BEING WITH US. I APOLOGIZE FOR THE LONG EVENING. I KNOW HOW EXCEPTIONALLY BUSY YOU ARE DURING THAT TIME. YOUR CRITICAL LEADERS WHO ARE SERVING DURING COVID. IS AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK SHERIFF LAWHORN. HE IS A LEADER IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OFFICERS LARRGIAS AND ARGETTA. WE THANK YOU THAT YOU ARE HERE. AND I'VE WORKED IN CHICAGO AND I'VE WORKED IN 35 URBAN HIGH SCHOOLS AND I'VE HAD A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH STUDENTS AS WELL AS SRO'S. I'VE SEEN PHENOMENAL ONES AN HAVE SEEN ONES THAT, YOU KNOW, COULD USE SOME WORK. SO I UNDERSTAND THE CONVERSATION. AND I HAVE AN AFRICAN AMERICAN SON AND I HAVE A LOT OF STORIES TO SHARE TONIGHT. I HAD A PLEASURE OF BEING A REPRESENTATIVE ON THE GANG TASK FORCE WHERE I'VE HAD A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND REALLY GOT TO SEE FIRST HAND AND THEIR LENS WHICH THEY DO THEIR WORK AND THANKS IN LARGE PART TO THE LEADERSHIP OF CHIEF BROWN. I DO WANT TO SAY ALSO THAT I AM VERY FAMILIAR AND I THOUGHT THAT PRINCIPAL MAZER DID A PHENOMENAL JOB WHY THIS IS HAPPENING AND WE HAVE SRO'S IN OUR BUILDING WHICH IS 1% AND THE OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE IS REFERRALS. MANY OF THOSE HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE SRO'S AND SOME OF THEM DO NOT HAVE SRO'S. SO WHAT I WANT TO REPEAT IN THE DATA FOR THE STATE OF VIRGINIA WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF HIGH SCHOOLS THAT DO NOT HAVE SRO'S AND, YET, THEIR REST [01:20:03] OF STUDENTS AND REFERRALS IS A HIGHER VOLUME AND PERCENTAGE OF TC WILLIAMS AND FOR STUDENTS OF COLOR, THIS IS NOT THE LEVEL TO PULL AND I WANT TO BE VERY, VERY MINDFUL OF THIS. THIS IS THREE FOLD THAT ARE ON THE AREAS, MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND THIS IS WHERE WE SHOULD BE PUTTING POLICIES AND BUDGET NOT THE SRO'S BECAUSE THE SRO'S ARE NOT CORRELATED TO OUR ARREST RECORDS. AND THEY CAN INTERACT AND WE HAVE OFFICERS BEFORE US WHICH ARE OF HIGH RISK AND WE SELL CHRISTMAS TREES AND THEY CAN GO AWAY FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER FOR THE SLEEP AWAY CAMP. WE HAVE OFFICERS THAT VOLUNTEER WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT DUE TO A NATIONAL CONVERSATION AS CHIEF BROWN SAID EARLIER THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY GETTING RID OF RESOURCES THAT THE OFFICERS CARE ABOUT AND I WANT TO PROVIDE A DATA POINT AS A RESULT OF US HEARING FROM A FEW STUDENTS I DID TALK TO THE STUDENTS THAT APPROACHED ALL OF US. WHEN I ASKED THEM THE THREE CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE OF SYSTEMATIC RACISM WITHIN THE WALLS OF TC AND THEY DID NOT MENTION THE LEVER TO PULL AND THEY WERE MAKING SURE THE VOICES TO BE HEARD AND AP CLASSES WERE MORE AVAILABLE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO AS A RESULT OF THAT BEING IN A CONVERSATION WHERE THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES DID NOT MAKE THE CASE FOR THE SRO'S OF THEIR CONCERN. IN FACT THE ONLY THING THEY SAID THEY HAD A CONCERN ABOUT FOR THE SRO'S WAS JUST THAT THEY KNEW THEIR NAMES. I ASKED THE STUDENTS HOW WOULD YOU SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS? IF THEY COULD INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AT A PEP RALLY THAT WOULD BE COOL. AND I SPOKE TO THE SRO'S AND I SPOKE TO THE STUDENTS AND THEY SAID THEY DEPEND ON THEM AND HOW MUCH THEY LOOK UP ON THEM. I WANTED TO SIR THAT AS A DATA POINT AND I WASN'T LISTENING TO THE FOUR STUDENTS APS APPROACHING US BUT I TALKED TO THE VERY STUDENTS THAT I KNOW THAT THIS BOARD IS COMMITTED TO AND TRIED TO GET FOCUS GROUPS AND HEAR FROM THEM. LIKE I SAID EARLIER THAT DID COME FROM THE EXPERTS AT TRUENCEY MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE IS WHERE WE SHOULD BE DOING OUR RESOURCES. BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED THAT DUE TO A NATIONAL NARRATIVE THAT DOESN'T ALIGN WE HAVE [01:25:18] THE RESOURCES THAT OUR KIDS ARE GOING TO CARE ABOUT AND NUMBER ONE THE DATA THAT WE REVIEWED EARLIER THAT AND WE HAVE PRINCIPALS ON A NIGHT WHERE THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF A CHALLENGING SCHOOL YEAR AND THEY ARE COMMITTED TO THE PROGRAM AND WHAT APRIL ASSET IT IS AND THAT WE ARE LISTENING TO THOSE CLOSEST TO THE GROUND AND TRUSTING OUR LEADERS AND TRUSTING WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. AS HAS BEEN SAID PREVIOUSLY WE ARE THE MODEL OF POLICING. THIS IS NOT THE TIME I'VE SAID THIS. FOR FIVE YEARS NOW I'VE OFTEN TOLD PEOPLE AND THE REASON FOR HAVING POLICING TO MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS ARE COMFORTABLE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, MAKE SURE THEY ARE PREVENTING CRIME, MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A TRUSTED MENTOR AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A TRUSTED INDIVIDUAL AND IF SOME OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE A TRUSTED CRIME AND I THINK IT IS VALID AND HELPFUL AND I AM PETRIFIED THAT WE ARE TURNING A NARRATIVE INTO SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT EXIST HERE AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY OFFICER LAGETTA; THERE ANYTHING WITH YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND WHAT ABOUT YOUR FEEDBACK? AND I APOLOGIZE. I KNOW IT'S A LATE NIGHT AND THOSE ARE A LOT OF COMMENTS AND I'M PASSIONATE WORKING IN URBAN SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND WHAT THE KIDS GET FROM SRO'S AND THOSE RESOURCES I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HURT OUR KIDS. AGAIN; THERE ANYTHING WE CAN BE DOING AS A PARTNERSHIP AND ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? >> TO BE VERY HONEST WITH YOU I HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH PETER AND HIS ADMIN. I DON'T HAVE ANY COMPLAINTS OR ANYTHING THAT THEY CAN REALLY DO. THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF THAT WE'VE ALREADY ADDRESSED MOU'S JUST SOLIDIFYING THAT WE ARE DOING FINE WHICH WE ALREADY KNOW THAT AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT. THERE IS REALLY NOTHING. I REALLY AM HAPPY WITH IT. >> I WOULD JUST IS PIGGIEBACK ON WHAT HE SAID. I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING. WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH MR. BALLAST AND ALL OF THE OTHER ADMINISTRATORS AT TC. THEY DO A REALLY GREAT JOB. >> GREAT. THANK SO YOU MUCH AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. >> OKAY. >> AND I WOULD JUST ECHO THAT YOU HAVE THE RIGHT INTENTIONS FOR THE STUDENTS AND THE RIGHT HEART AND I AM REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. I WILL SAY MY FAMILY WAS IN POLICING MY MOM WAS A POLICE OFFICER OVER 20 YEARS AND I RESPECT THE PROFESSION AND RESPECT WHAT YOU DO ON A DAILY BASIS. I KNOW IT'S NOT A EASY JOB ESPECIALLY IN THIS CLIMATE RIGHT NOW PEOPLE ARE NOT GIVING POLICING THE RESPECT IT DESERVES. THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY SOME BAD APPLES IN THE NATIONAL CONVERSATIONS YOU HEAR ABOUT. MOST COPS ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING AND TRYING TO DO RIGHT BY THEIR COMMUNITIES. TRYING TO EMPHASIZE THAT. I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THOUGH, THAT WHEN WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION WE ARE SORT OF VALIDATING THE STUDENTS. WE ARE VALIDATING SOME OF THESE ANTIDOTES WE'VE HEARD. I'VE HEARD WHAT HAS BEEN SAID IN TERMS OF THE GREAT THINGS YOU'VE BEEN DOING. SO I THINK THAT'S AWESOME. I THINK AND WHAT YOU'VE MENTIONED, THE CHRISTMAS TREES ARE AS A RESULT OF THE KIDS AND OF POLICE BEING IN THE SCHOOLS AND THE NOTION OF HAVING POLICE CARS [01:30:03] OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL ALL OF THOSE THINGS CAN HAVE AN IMPACT. I GUESS, FOR ME, LIKE, I LIKE, FIRST OF ALL I'VE BEEN SURPRISED ABOUT HOW LITTLE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE AGREEMENT AND I HAVE SEVERAL POINTS ON THAT AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE PURPOSE TO TALK THROUGH ARE WE GOING TO MAKE THIS AGREEMENT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE? THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO THE QUESTION IS WHERE DOES THE BURDEN LIE WITH THIS, SITTINGS AND MS. NOLAN MENTIONED TRUANCY AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS AND WHERE ARE THE RESOURCES? WE HAVE THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SEVERAL OF US COMING TO US AND SAYING MAYBE WE NEED TO DIVERT THESE RESOURCES ANOTHER WAY. THIS IS A CONVERSATION WE NEED TO HAVE. THIS IS NOT TO SAY TO BLOW UP THE MOU. BUT ONE OF YOUR POINTS CHIEF BROWN BUT I THINK THAT IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONCEPTUALIZE THE MOU AS SORT OF A GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLICE AND THE SCHOOL DIVISION; RIGHT? SO TO YOUR POINT EARLIER, THERE WAS THAT INCIDENT THIS YEAR WHERE A POLICE OFFICER CAME INTO A SCHOOL, DIDN'T KNOW THE WROTE COME, PARENTS WERE VERY FRUSTRATED ABOUT THAT, IMPROPER QUESTIONING OCCURRED, THINGS LIKE THAT. AND WE ALWAYS ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING OR SOME SORT OF FRAMEWORK AS THE DOCTOR ROOTE SAID EARLIER HOW THIS GOES. I JUST I WANT TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS ON ITSELF FOOD FOR THOUGHT AND THE MATERIALS AND I WILL SAY HAVING GONE THROUGH THE REDLINES I THINK DIRECTIONALLY THE EDITS ARE GOOD AND I THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A CONVERSATION TO MAKE THIS BETTER OVER TIME AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. LET ME JUST MAKE A FEW COMMENTS ON THAT. SO A LOT OF THESE ARE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A LAWYER. BECAUSE I THINK WHEN YOU WHEN I GO THROUGH THIS AND I SEE THINGS THAT ARE VAGUE OR AMBIGUOUS IT MAKES ME NERVOUS ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT AND HOW IT IS GOING TO BE INTERPRETED AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. ONE OF THE THINGS ON PAGE 3 IT TALKS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A TRACKING THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH REGARD TO OFFICIAL CONTACTS WITH STUDENTS. WELL, IT'S VERY UNCLEAR TO ME FROM LOOKING AT THE AGREEMENT, LIKE, WHAT AN OFFICIAL CONTACT IS. I THINK THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS TO DEFINE THAT IN THE AGREEMENT BUT, IF A POLICE OFFICER IS FIST BUMPING SOMEBODY IN THE HALLWAY IS AN OFFICIAL CONTACT? WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THE INTERACTIONS AND WHERE ARE WE DRAWING THE LINE? IT SOUNDS LIKE THE INTENT IS TO DRAW THE LINE WHERE THERE IS A QUESTIONING INCIDENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NATURE OF THE INTERACTIONS ARE. I DON'T HAVE A WINDOW INTO THAT. I HAVE THIS ANECDOTAL WINDOW. AND I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A CONVERSATION OF WHERE SRO'S SHOULD BE IN THE BUILDING. YES, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR SRO'S TO BE ON CAMPUS BECAUSE THEY CAN RESPOND TO AN INCIDENT BETTER AND MAYBE THEY HAVE A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH STUDENTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND IS IT OKAY WHEN STUDENTS ARE IN THE ACADEMY OR AMONG THE STUDENTS OF COLOR? WHAT SHOULD HE BE DOING? THIS IS A HYPOTHETICAL CONTEXT BUT WE DON'T HAVE THIS DISCUSSION. WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO BE? WHY ARE THEY GOING TO BE THERE? AND HOW DOES THAT ALIGN WITH THEIR POLICY? AND WHAT IS THE DATA? AND WHAT IS THE DATA WE SHOULD BE COLLECTING? I THINK WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE DATA AND HOW WE'RE COLLECTING IT AND HOW IT RELATES TO THINGS. TO THE POINT THAT WAS MADE EARLIER AS I'VE HEARD MORE FROM MY COLLEAGUES I'VE ACCEPTED THE PREMISE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE SRO'S THEMSELVES ARE NOT CAUSING DISPROPORTIONATE DISCIPLINE DIRECTLY. I ACCEPT THAT PREMISE. BUT I WOULD WANT TO KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, HOW OFTEN OUR TEACHERS ARE CALLING THE SRO; RIGHT? AND THE AGREEMENT TALKS ABOUT TRAINING FOR TEACHERS AND THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH SRO'S BUT I WOULD LIKE THERE TO BE TRAINING FOR SRO'S AND BEING ABLE TO TELL A TEACHER, SAY, THIS IS NOT MY ROLE. I'M NOT GOING TO COME TO HELP WITH YOU THIS ONE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? [01:35:06] I'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW BOTH DIRECTIONS UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ROLE IS AND THAT'S BEEN KIND OF A THEME OF THE CONVERSATION OF, LIKE, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THEIR ROLE, EVERYONE KNOWS THEIR LANE, SO TO SPEAK IN THIS SORT OF RELATIONSHIP. ANOTHER SORT OF CONCERN I HAVE . HIGHLIGHT THAT AND ON PAGE 6 ANOTHER EXAMPLE LIKE THE SEE ASSISTS WITH MATTERS THIS IS NEW LANGUAGE RELATED SO SAFETY AND SECURITY AND THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND THAT IS VAGUE, LIKE, ANYTHING RELATING TO SAFETY. WAS ADDED ON PAGE 9 REGARDING THE PRENOTE FALCATION OF PARENTS BEFORE ANY INTERROGATION OCCURS. I THINK THAT WAS A GREAT ADDITION. AND I KNOW THAT WE HAD A PARENT SPECIFICALLY RAISE THAT CONCERN. I THINK IT WAS IN REFERENCE WITH THE INCIDENT THAT CHIEF BROWN AND I WERE PROBABLY REFERRING TO EARLIER. I WILL SAY, IT SAYS "THE LEGAL CUSTODIAN SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OF THE PENDING INTERVIEW AND THE SRO OR POLICE OFFICER MUST VERIFY THAT THE TEACHER HAS HAD TON TACT WITH THEIR PARENT, GUARDIAN, OR LEGAL CUSTODIAN. AND DOES THAT MEAN THAT THERE IS A AND I ALSO DIDN'T SEE LANGUAGE ABOUT AN ATTORNEY AND I FEEL LIKE LANGUAGE TO THAT EFFECT SHOULD BE USED ESPECIALLY IF IT IS A LANGUAGE THAT INDICATES CRIMINAL TYPE OF CONDUCT OR LIABILITY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT YEAH, SO I WAS KIND OF PUTTING MY LAWYER HAT ON THERE AS WELL. BUT I DO THINK THAT EDITS ARE GOOD, AND I DO EXPECT MY COLLEAGUES THAT VOICE SUPPORT FOR THE AND I THINK THAT IT IS CLEAR THAT BOTH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB WITH THE STUDENTS AND HAVE DONE A LOT OF GOOD BUT I DO WANT TO GET US TO A PLACE WHERE WE ARE PLACING THE BURDEN ON THE APD AND THE SCHOOL TO SHOW US THE DATA. I THINK MS. KNWLAN DID A LOT OF THAT WORK ON HER OWN AND I THINK WE SHOULD SYSTEMATICALLY HAVE THAT INFORMATION AND HELP US MAKE THE BEST DECISION ABOUT THIS PROGRAM GOING FORWARD. BECAUSE I THINK THE POINTS THAT MS. THORNTON MADE WERE WELL TAKEN ABOUT THE HISTORY HERE AND ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A REASON THAT IS KIND OF INSIDIOUS THAT THAT THIS PROGRAM WAS CREATED IS AND I THINK IT IS WHERE WE GET IN THIS MODE WHERE WE'RE PROGRESSIVE AND DIFFERENT AND IT'S ALL GOOD SO I DON'T THINK THAT IS THE CASE. I THINK WE HAVE TO BE CRITICAL AND HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS AROUND THESE ISSUES. SO THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOUR LISTENING AND HEARING ME OUT AN INDULGING ME. [01:40:02] I KNOW IT'S LATE AND I'LL YIELD. >> THANK YOU. NEXT UP, MS. OLDERSON. >> I LOVE THAT LAWYER JUST YIELDED THE FLORENCE. THAT WAS AWESOME. SO THANKS FOR LISTENING TO ME AT 10:51 P.M. I I THINK YOU GUY HAVE'S HEARD SOME OF MY THOUGHTS BEFORE ARE. TO TRY TO SUM THIS UP, I THINK MAYBE BECAUSE I'M NOT CLEAR WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE I THINK THESE WHERE I STRUGGLE. AND I'VE HAD SOME GOOD CONVERSATIONS. I'VE HAD A GOOD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE FOLKS AT GRASSROOTS ALEXANDRIA TO REALLY GET A SENSE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WAS TRYING TO BE ACCOMPLISHED. AND I'VE BROKE THIS DOWN TO THREE THINGS WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO ACHIEVE? AND HOW ARE WE TRYING TO MEASURE IT AND HOW WILL THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN US AND THE APD HELP US MEET OUR GOALS? BECAUSE I THINK THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP I BELIEVE THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ACPS AND THE ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN ACTUALLY CAN ABSOLUTELY HELP US REACH OUR GOALS. AND MAYBE SORT OF I GUESS IT'S A DIFFERENT WAY FOR ME OF FRAMING THE DISCUSSION, LIKE, BEING VERY CLEAR ON WE HAVE THIS MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT AND HAVE THIS UNDERSTANDING AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MEANS ANYTHING TO ANYBODY BUT, FOR ME, THAT IS SORT OF HOW I'VE CAPTURED IT. I THINK EVERYBODY HAS MADE IMPORTANT POINTS. SO I'M JUST THROWING THAT OUT THERE. I THINK MAYBE THE ISSUE BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT UP THE DATA PIECE, WELL, THE QUESTION I WRITE DOWN IS, WELL, WHAT IS THAT DATA? LIKE, WHAT IS THAT DATA THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR? OR WHAT IS THAT DATA THAT WE'RE ALL GOING TO AGREE UPON THAT TELLS THE STORY THAT WE'RE TRYING TO TO TELL OR GIVES US THE INFORMATION THAT WE'RE TRYING TO RECEIVE? AND I DON'T HAVE ANY CLARITY ON WHAT THAT IS. BECAUSE, LIKE, SOME OTHER PEOPLE. PEOPLE KEEP BRINGING UP SUSPENSIONS, THE DISPROPORTIONALITY IN DISCIPLINE. LISTEN, YOU GUYS KNOW LAST YEAR I SPENT A GOOD HALF OF THE YEAR WORKING WITH A DELEGATE TO CRAFT LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. AND IT WAS FOCUSED ACTUALLY ON TEACHER TRAINING; RIGHT? SO, IN MY VIEW, IF OUR GOAL IS TO, YOU KNOW, ADDRESS DISPROPORTIONAL, THEN WE REMOVE, YOU KNOW, AND AT THE RISK OF REMOVING THE APD THAT BEHAVE IN WAYS THAT CAN CAUSE ISSUES THAT CAN HAVE STRANGERS BROUGHT INTO THE BUILDING WHICH, I THINK, IS ANOTHER CONCERN FOR ME. LIKE, I DO THINK I BELIEVE THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF THAT SAFETY AND CONNECTION WITH THE SRO BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS ISSUES. I'VE ALSO SAID, YES, CLIMBS HAPPEN IN SCHOOLS. YES, IT DOES HAPPEN. I'VE ALSO SAID, YES, CRIMES HAPPEN IN SCHOOLS. YES, IT DOES HAPPEN. AND POLICE WILL HAVE TO BE CALLED. THEY WILL BE CALLED IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. DO I PREFER SOMEONE COMING OFF NOT JUST "SOMEONE" AND I'M NOT SAYING ALL POLICE ARE BAD. DO I PREFER A POLICE OFFICER COMING OFF THE STREETS WHO DOESN'T KNOW THE SCHOOL? WHO DOESN'T HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE KIDS? WHO DOESN'T KNOW THE PRINCIPALS? DO I PREFER THAT? OR DO I PREFER SOMEONE WHO DOES HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP? AS AN EDUCATOR, I PREFER SOMEONE WHO DOES HAVE THE RELATIONSHIP BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT RELATIONSHIPS MATTER. SO SO I GUESS AS WE MOVE FORWARD THROUGH THIS DISCUSSION, HOW ARE WE GOING TO MOVE THROUGH IT? WHAT ARE WE TRY TO ACHIEVE? HOW ARE WE GOING TO MEASURE IT? [01:45:01] HOW WILL THIS RESOURCE HELP MEET OUR GOALS? BECAUSE WE HAVE GOALS TO MEET. WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED WHAT THOSE GOALS ARE IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN. SO JUST MAP EVERYTHING TO THAT; RIGHT? HOW DOES EVERY PROGRAM THAT WE USE, HOW DO WE USE THAT PROGRAM TO MEET OUR STRATEGIC GOALS? I THINK THAT'S, FOR ME, A MORE A DIFFERENT WAY OF LOOKING AT IT. AND THEN LASTLY, SINCE WE'RE GIVING ANTIDOTES, I HAVE TO GIVE AN ANECDOTE BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE HERE. AND JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE SAYS, LIKE, IT'S CLEAR THAT YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME GUYS. I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF AWESOME POLICE OFFICERS OUT THERE. AND I WANT TO TELL THE STORY OF WORKING IN GEORGE WASHINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND OUR BELOVED RESOURCE OFFICER AT THE TIME. WHEN I TAUGHT U.S. HISTORY IN SEVENTH GRADE, WHEN WE TAUGHT ABOUT THE ROARING '20S, WE TALKED ABOUT BOOTLEGGERS, AND WE TALKED ABOUT SPEAK EASY'S AND WE LIKED TO USE THE HISTORY ALIVE COLUMN. AND ME AND SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES, WE CREATED A SPEAK EASY IN THE LIBRARY. IT WAS ALL THE WINDOWS WERE COVERED UP, IT WAS DARK. WE GAVE THE KIDS A PASSWORD THAT THEY HAD TO GET IN. THEY HAD NO THEY HAD NO IDEA, LIKE, WHY WE WERE TAKING THEM THERE. AND WE WERE JUST GOING IN. IT WAS A PARTY. THERE WAS MUSIC. SOMEBODY WAS THERE TO TEACH THEM THE CHARLESTON. THEY HAD GINGER AIL. THEY WERE, LIKE, WE ARE HAVING A GOOD TIME. GREAT. OUR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER FOR FIVE OF THE PERIODS IN A DAY IN TWO DAYS SHE WAS THE ONE WHO WOULD COME AND SURPRISE THE KIDS AND BUST UP THE SPEAK EASY BECAUSE WE WERE TRYING TO TEACH THEM ABOUT BOOTLEGGERS IN THE ROARING 20S AND HOW ALCOHOL WAS ILLEGAL. THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT EVENTUALLY ALLOWED US TO CHANGE, DECRIMINALIZE THE USE OF ALCOHOL IN OUR COUNTRY. AND THAT IS THE PROCESS OF TEACHING KIDS AND SOL'S AND I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT. I KNOW THE STUDENTS WILL NEVER FORGET THAT. BECAUSE WHEN SHE CAME BANGING ON THAT LIBRARY DOOR, EVERY KID JUST FROZE. SHE'S LIKE, "WHAT'S GOING ON?" AND HERE SHE CAME IN. SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT MATTER, TOO, AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE FIGURE OUT HOW TO BRIDGE THIS GAP. I THINK THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. >> OKAY. NOW I IT IS NOW 10:59, EVERYBODY AND WE DO NOT HAVE TO VOTE ON THIS TODAY AND THIS WAS REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THE RESOURCE OFFICERS AND YOU KNOW AND THE CHIEF AND TO HAVE THE ADMINISTRATORS HERE SO WE CAN I MEAN I THINK I THINK PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAVE SPOKEN I SEE DR. REEFE YOU HAVE ANOTHER BUT YOU DID SPEAK ONCE AND I'M NOT SURE. I MEAN, CAN IT BE SHORT BECAUSE I WANT TO KIND OF BRING US TO A CLOSE BECAUSE WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE SOME SOME OFFLINE, YOU KNOW, INPUT TO CENTRAL TO, YOU KNOW, DR. HUTCHINGS ABOUT THIS AND THEN WE CAN IT WILL BE ON ANOTHER AGENDA AT THE OCTOBER 29TH MEETING. SO WE HAVE YOU KNOW WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME. IT'S NOT COMING BECOME TO US EVEN NEXT WEEK SO DR. REEFE DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING SHORT OR? >> MM HMM. YEAH. I'LL JUST SAY. I KNOW IT'S LATE AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S TIME. JUST TO KIND OF QUICKLY RESPOND TO WHAT MS. ALDER TON WAS SAYING. WHY ARE WE HERE? WE'RE HERE BECAUSE THERE WAS LEGISLATION PASSED IN VIRGINIA THAT WE HAVE TO REVIEW THAT AGREEMENT. AND I THINK THAT WAS GOOD THAT THAT WAS PASSED. BECAUSE I THINK THAT THIS PROCESS IS AN IMPORTANT PROCESS THAT WE'RE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS. AND I THINK FOR ME BETTER ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY IS THE OBJECTIVE HERE. AND SO IF WE YOU KNOW, IF WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH KEEPING THIS MOU I DO HAVE SOME SUGGESTED CHANGES AND I CAN E MAIL THOSE. CAN I SEND THOSE ALONG TO DR. HUTCHINGS. AND IT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE TO ME LIKE THE NEW FORM THAT YOU DRAFTED. IT IS NOT CLEAR THAT IT IS ADMINISTRATORS OR LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE COMPLETING IT. I ALSO SAW THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICE SAID THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE CLEAR DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITIES FOR SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICERS [01:50:04] LAID OUT IN THE MOU AND I DON'T SEE THAT. AND THEN I THINK ADDING SOMETHING AROUND AN ANTIDISCRIMINATION CLAUSE OF SOME SORT WOULD BE A GREAT ADDITION TO THIS MOU AND TAKING A LOOK AT THESE PRIVACY RIGHTS FOR STUDENTS TO TIGHTEN THEM UP WOULD BE MY SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO FURTHER APPROVE THE MOU AND I'LL ACCEPTED THOSE COMMENTS ALONG TO DR. HUTCHINGS. >> BECAUSE I HEARD SOME SUGGESTIONS FROM MR. SHUAREZ AS WELL. IF PEOPLE CAN SEND THOSE AND THEY CAN BE INCORPORATED INTO THE INFORMATION SO WHEN WE GET IT BACK AGAIN, IT IS CLOSER TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR. ALL RIGHT SO WE HAVE ALREADY ADJOURNED OUR MEETING AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, WE'LL BE BACK TOGETHER IN NINE HOURS AND THEN WE WILL BE TOGETHER ALL DAY. AND WE DON'T HAVE TO ADJOURN BECAUSE WE ALREADY DID THAT IF YOU DON'T REMEMBER THAT WAS A COUPLE OF HOURS AGO. SO WE'RE JUST DONE UNLESS SOMEBODY HAS SOMETHING ELSE. >> GOOD NIGHT, EVERYONE. THANK YOU AGAIN TO OUR GUESTS. >> GOOD NIGHT. THANK YOU. >> GOOD NIGHT. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.