Governor McKee believes student resource officers are needed - Students disagree

[Claire Oh Nette]

2. Alternative High School

I taught at the Alternative High School for four years. One of our resource officers is currently a guest of the State, since he opted to have an affair with a student. He was, until that story broke, well regarded, nice guy, a cop I called a friend and colleague. The other RO was also a good guy, but it was still police on campus.

Some of our students were involved with drugs, and there were arrests on campus. We had students on parole and probation, and we had a few fights that were clearly assault and battery. That said, we didn't need a resource officer every day. In an emergency, the RO takes time to get to the right classroom, too. The officers create a layer of surveillance and Us/Them.

There are no where near enough counselors and social workers in the schools. Not even close.