Regional Police Commission Turns Down Request For SRO At CB West

DOYLESTOWN, PA ? The Central Bucks Regional Police Commission won?t be partnering
with the school district to place a School Resource Officer (SRO) at Central Bucks West High School this fall.

After reviewing and discussing a proposal from the Central Bucks School District, the commission has declined the district's request to participate in the SRO program citing "current constraints" on the staff and administration and the lack of an operational plan "from which we could assess the program."

The commission also expressed reluctance to enter into a program that has not been addressed publicly at a school board meeting or has been openly discussed with the parents of Central Bucks High School West students.

"The police commission does not know to what extent the parents of CB West students and/or the community support or do not support the school district's proposed placement of a police officer at West," said the commission in a letter to the school district.

In March, Superintendent Dr. Abram Lucabaugh and the district's director of operations Kevin Spencer asked the commission to consider partnering with the school district on the program and designating one of its police officers as an SRO at West beginning this fall.

An SRO is a sworn local law enforcement employee who has the authority to make arrests, respond to calls, and document incidents that occur within the school. The officer's presence provides not only a visual reminder of safety, but offers a mentorship opportunity to students, teachers, administrators and security personnel, Spencer told the commission in March.

SROs have become an increasingly popular tool at schools across the nation seeking ways to increase school security in the wake of mass school shootings.

After successfully implementing the SRO program at South, the district told the commission it was looking to use the same model at West, partnering with the Central Bucks Regional Police to provide an on-site officer at the school.

The district initially offered to pick up the cost of the officer's salary, training and equipment for the first two years of the program. It subsequently offered to pay the entire cost of the program over a five-year period, which Lucabaugh called an "unprecedented" move.

The district also added a clause in its memorandum of understanding with the commission that in the unlikely event the district would ever terminate the program, the commission and any township or municipality would not be left with an unfunded position.

In response to the commission's denial, Spencer sent a letter to the commission calling its decision "severely disappointing" and questioning whether the three boroughs - Doylestown, New Britain and Chalfont - that are part of the commission were in agreement with the decision.

"The safety of our children is and should never be political and I hope that this is not a factor in the commission's decision," wrote Spencer. "Adding the SRO to CB West, funded in its entirety by the district, will send a resounding message to our community regarding an outcome I am certain we share - the provision of a safe, secure environment for our students and staff."

At its July 27 meeting, the commission reaffirmed its decision not to participate in the program after a contingent of Central Bucks School Board leaders and residents showed up at its meeting to urge the commission to reconsider.

"It's in the best interest of the community. It's in the best interest of our students. And it's in the best interest of our staff. Another officer would be beneficial to the entire community," said school board president Dana Hunter.

"I'm kind of heartbroken for our CB West students. Of all the high schools CB West is the one who would have benefited most from the relationship-building of your police force," said school board vice president Leigh Vlasblom.

"SROs aren't just about an officer being physically in a school. It's about relationship building and community policing," she said. "Police officers are part of our community. They have relationships. They are present at events. They are part of the fabric of our community and especially for CB West.

"The safety of these kids is so important," continued Vlasblom. "It's not optional. If we can make it happen for East and we can make it happen for South, we're going to make it happen for West. It's just sad that it won't be with Central Bucks Regional."

The district has an SRO in place at South through a partnership with the Warrington Township Police Department. And it is currently finalizing an agreement with Buckingham to place an SRO at East for the upcoming school year.

So what's the next step for West?

?We are investigating options to contract with other law enforcement agencies as we are not interested in any other security model other than the SRO, which we believe is our best option," said Lucabaugh. "Our district and our board is committed to having SROs at all three of our high schools.?