While local schools are on break for the summer, one local police force is working on a new program for students they hope will be in place as a pilot for the fall.
MidlandToday recently spoke with representatives from three police forces that serve Simcoe County to talk about their programs in local schools, the assertion from some racialized groups that police programs should be eliminated in schools, and the value they believe the different programs they provide bring to the communities they serve.
The Barrie police department is currently in the process of developing a new elementary school program, called Inside Out, with hopes it will be approved for use in local schools come September. If approved, it would run as a one-year pilot project before being re-evaluated.
The program was developed by Madison Charman, organizational researcher with the Barrie police, and Special Const. Shannon Calladine from the community services unit.
“The main difference is our new program is evidence-based,” said Charman. “We took an in-depth view of literature from education, social work and law enforcement to see what works in youth programming, and what doesn’t.”
Previously, Barrie police ran the VIP (Values, Influences, Peers) program, which is a lecture-based program with anti-drug messaging. Some of the lessons included bullying, social media, youth and the law.
Inside Out would replace VIP and run for students Grade 5 to 8 in the pilot year, with plans to roll it out to other grades in the future. Multiple community groups have been consulted on the new program.
“D.A.R.E. and Just Say No, and the VIP structure, has been viewed as ineffective. We looked at models that have been shown to work and built that into our new program,” said Charman.
Calladine says the Inside Out program will be provided through a trauma-informed lens.
“We want to make sure we’re provide programming that is non-triggering and is focused on social and emotional skills,” said Calladine. “Some of the subjects (in VIP) were a bit heavy, especially for students who may have experienced trauma.”
The program will move away from being lecture-based and toward being more discussion-based.
“We’re changing (the messaging) to be less ‘don’t do this,’ and more ‘if you’d like to do this in the future, here are your next steps to get there',” she said.
Overall, Charman says the elementary program is intended to intercept future harm by being proactive.
“Research shows us that positive relationships with police, and having empathetic police, we can help build connections with kids and interrupt victimization through the development of resilience,” said Charman. “Police aren’t the only people who can deliver this message, but I think the key here is building those relationships.”
When it comes to school resource officers in high schools, Barrie police post specific officers to build relationships with students, teachers, parents and staff.
“If there is a need for law enforcement that arises, they’ve already built that relationship with the school community,” said Calladine.
The school resource officer program was dissolved at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) in November 2017. Peel Region followed suit in November 2020, as have Ottawa school boards.
Two deputations given during the June 16 Simcoe County District School Board meeting covered the topic of school resource officers at both the elementary and secondary levels, with both presenters asking the public board to reconsider the practice of allowing police officers to be a constant presence in local schools as it can cause anxiety for students from racialized groups.
Charman and Calladine said they both watched the deputations.
“Before we make any decisions to cut programs or stop policing in schools, we really want to build a program that is out of evidence and evaluate it,” said Charman. “If we look at this program and it comes out the strategy is ineffective, we would pivot our strategy.
“(We should) look at being informed, over shutting something down altogether,” she added.
In Orillia, OPP Const. Ted Dongelmans works as a school resource officer, and travels between the four Orillia high schools in addition to his other duties as a media officer.
“I try to be in the schools as often as possible,” said Dongelmans. “I’m responsible for any calls for service that come from the schools.”
In his situation, Dongelmans says he’s responsible for about 3,000 students. Pre-COVID-19, he says he would respond regularly to issues in schools that would progress into full investigations.
“However, from my perspective, the importance of this role is really the other things I do, like forging relationships with young people so they feel comfortable talking with police and reporting things if need be,” he said. “Anecdotally, I have numerous cases where young people were hesitant to report (at first), but then they would hear through a friend they could talk to me, and then had a good experience.”
“That’s where I see the real value in having a police presence around the schools so we have a chance to open that dialogue and forge positive relationships early in their lives,” he said.
The OPP currently still uses the D.A.R.E. program in elementary schools in its purview. Officers who deliver the program participate in a training course before delivering the program in a school.
“The presence of police here in our schools is a positive thing,” said Dongelmans. “It makes schools safer, as well as being a deterrent (for crime) but also, and more importantly, for the positive engagement we get out of it.”
The South Simcoe elementary school liaison program was created in South Simcoe about three years ago, called #BTRU (Be The Real You). The program is funded entirely through the police budget at the municipal level, however community sponsors chip in to pay for items such as printing of booklets and T-shirts.
“If you’re going to build a strong community, you have to start early on,” said South Simcoe Police Chief Andrew Fletcher.
Two special constables work with all the elementary schools in Bradford and Innisfil, delivering the program to Grade 5 students, providing enhanced tools for keeping youth safe and drug free. They also help with school bus safety, breakfast programs and assist with school lockdown drills twice a year. The curriculum was developed by South Simcoe police in collaboration with local school principals and school boards.
“Years ago, we were doing programs like D.A.R.E., VIP and other programs, but those programs are very tight,” said Fletcher. “We wanted to create something that was tailored to our own needs and our own community.
“They’re there to build relationships with students,” he added.
As the South Simcoe police created its own program, Fletcher says they have the flexibility to adjust the program as the needs of the community change over time.
Fletcher says South Simcoe police don’t have a formalized high school community resource officer program.
“We have built relationships with high schools in the community. Our community mobilization team goes into schools on a regular basis to make connections with students, teachers and principals and just work with them on any issues that come up,” said Fletcher.
When the school resource officer programs were dissolved in other areas, Fletcher says he reached out to the directors of education at the local public and Catholic school boards to discuss the future of in-school programs.
“When that happened, I reached out... and asked if they were happy with the program, or if they wanted it to change,” said Fletcher, adding that, at that time, the directors said they weren’t looking to change the programming.
“I think if we were to pull our officers out of these school programs, we would get backlash from the parents. They love the relationship we have,” said Fletcher.
Fletcher says the primary goal of the programs locally is to serve the needs of the community.
“If there are racialized groups coming forward saying there’s more detriment being done by this, then that’s a conversation that needs to happen... to discuss how we can break down those barriers and improve that relationship piece.”
“We don’t want anyone coming to school, being in fear,” said Fletcher. “I think it comes down to the specific needs of each community. We don’t want to cause harm.”
“Although they’re police-led, they need to be community-driven,” he added.
