New Westminster Secondary School wants to hear from its BIPOC students about police liaison officers in schools.
The high school is holding a student forum April 23 to get feedback about the child and youth liaison officer program. The program, a partnership between the New Westminster Police Department and the New Westminster school district, has three police officers designated to serve as liaison officers in local schools: one at NWSS, one who serves the district’s 11 elementary and middle schools, and a community-based officer who serves the district’s alternate programs and provides extra after-hours support.
The officers' salaries are paid by the police department.
The program is on a temporary hold, with the officers reassigned to other duties, as the school district considers how best to approach its future, given the backdrop of global protests against systemic racism and police violence against racialized communities.
The student forum will be facilitated by school and district staff and will include both small and large group discussion, as well as a confidential survey. Interested students need to sign up online by April 21.
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, jmaclellan@newwestrecord.ca.
