Charlotte NC school police want agency designation www.privateofficer.com
Charlotte NC school police want agency designation http://www.privateofficer.com
CHARLOTTE NC Jan 13 2009 – Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools wants its Law Enforcement Department to become an independent agency.
The school system wants the state to grant CMS LED countywide jurisdiction. The plan involves 16 officers, who are separate from school resource officers.
It’s a move CMS officials say is crucial to dealing with complex school safety issues. It would also make the school system the first in the state to have its own independent law enforcement agency.
Superintendent Dr. Peter Gorman lists it as one of his key initiatives on the CMS 2009 legislative agenda.
“We think our officers should be standalone,” Gorman said.
Right now, CMS LED officers are part of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department reserves, allowing them countywide jurisdiction. A contract with the City of Charlotte is set to expire this year, but city officials haven’t said if they are for or against a new contract.
Either way, Patrol Officer Robin Cooper said student safety could be in jeopardy without the agreement.
“Our jurisdiction would only be on school property, and that could be a problem,” Cooper said. “They could be across the street from the school and there would be nothing we could do about it.”
CMS LED Director Bud Cesena said countywide jurisdiction could help keep schools safer.
“If a we get a report, for example, that a child had a knife or a gun on a bus, oftentimes, the deputy director and I, or one of my detectives will make a home visit,” Cesena said. “That’s going to make that a lot different.”
Cesena says countywide jurisdiction lets his officers visit homes, monitor registered sex offenders and patrol bus stops.
He says he’s already got the support of all area chiefs of police and the Mecklenburg County sheriff. They each signed a letter requesting state approval
“This is a win-win situation for Mecklenburg County,” Cesena said.
CMS said the initiative is a technical matter and won’t cost the school system anything. Cesena said the move will not affect personnel or school resource officers.
The school system wants the state to grant CMS LED countywide jurisdiction. The plan involves 16 officers, who are separate from school resource officers.
It’s a move CMS officials say is crucial to dealing with complex school safety issues. It would also make the school system the first in the state to have its own independent law enforcement agency.
Superintendent Dr. Peter Gorman lists it as one of his key initiatives on the CMS 2009 legislative agenda.
“We think our officers should be standalone,” Gorman said.
Right now, CMS LED officers are part of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department reserves, allowing them countywide jurisdiction. A contract with the City of Charlotte is set to expire this year, but city officials haven’t said if they are for or against a new contract.
Either way, Patrol Officer Robin Cooper said student safety could be in jeopardy without the agreement.
“Our jurisdiction would only be on school property, and that could be a problem,” Cooper said. “They could be across the street from the school and there would be nothing we could do about it.”
CMS LED Director Bud Cesena said countywide jurisdiction could help keep schools safer.
“If a we get a report, for example, that a child had a knife or a gun on a bus, oftentimes, the deputy director and I, or one of my detectives will make a home visit,” Cesena said. “That’s going to make that a lot different.”
Cesena says countywide jurisdiction lets his officers visit homes, monitor registered sex offenders and patrol bus stops.
He says he’s already got the support of all area chiefs of police and the Mecklenburg County sheriff. They each signed a letter requesting state approval
“This is a win-win situation for Mecklenburg County,” Cesena said.
CMS said the initiative is a technical matter and won’t cost the school system anything. Cesena said the move will not affect personnel or school resource officers.
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Categories: police
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