Brockport Central School District officials say they are excited about a new partnership with the Brockport Police Department which will result in a regular police presence on campus.
In a new collaborative effort to promote police visibility and safety initiatives, the Brockport Police Department now has a satellite office inside the A.D. Oliver Middle School.
District officials say all Brockport Police Department officers will, on occasion, use the satellite office to complete reports and conduct general business. Officers will also make the middle school part of their directed patrol by walking through the hallways and interacting with students and educators.
The initiative began September 9 and Superintendent Lesli C. Myers says it aligns with Brockport’s Health and Safety core belief.
“We all have an obligation to promote a healthy, safe and secure environment,” Myers says. “Many times when people see a law enforcement official, there is a negative connotation – ‘something must be wrong.’ We want students, educators, and their families to see police officers as a resource and gain peace of mind from knowing we have this new partnership.”
The District is providing the office and the Village of Brockport is staffing the officers, meaning there is no cost for the added security measure, officials say.
District officials explain that since the middle school is the only school within the village boundary, officers will not be visiting other schools as part of their directed patrol, but would continue to respond in the event of an emergency along with the appropriate law enforcement agency.
Security measures already in place include camera/intercom (buzzer) entry systems, 24-7 security patrols, greeters and hall monitors.
District Assistant Superintendent for Business Darrin Winkley says having an officer randomly visit the Middle School is an excellent way to increase the security presence on campus. “We have a great working relationship with law enforcement agencies and this initiative with the village is another example of how we are making every effort to be proactive as we focus on safety,” he says.
Brockport Police Chief Daniel Varrenti says, “We are excited to add this security measure at the middle school. We want to change the perspective where people think there is a problem when they see an officer. One way is to start at a younger age. By incorporating the interior of the Middle School into their directed patrol, just like we do in the village, students will see officers walking the halls – not because there is a problem, but because the officers want to interact in a positive manner with the students.
Last April, the Pavilion Central School District in Genesee County began a similar partnership with the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department, offering space in both district buildings for a substation office. The office provides a place for road patrol officers where they are free to stop in 24 hours a day to do paperwork, campus walkthroughs, or even grab a cup of coffee.
Genesee County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy of Road Patrol Gordon Dibble tells the Suburban News and Hamlin-Clarkson Herald the partnership is working well.
“It’s a win-win,” he says. “There’s no downside. No one knows exactly when a deputy will be there (a strong deterrent to crime). We have a good relationship with schools to begin with. This is an additional boost to encourage good relations and it has worked well.”
Chief Dibble adds that school districts around the country are working to increase security in the wake of events like the Sandy Hook shootings last December, but many times bringing in or adding standard resource officers is not financially feasible. The substation model is proving to be a way to address security concerns without increasing costs to districts.
