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Friday, March 3, 2006
March 2, 2006 – The Detroit Public Schools system will hire dozens of laid
off Detroit Police Department officers in the coming weeks in an effort bolster security operations in the District’s schools and surrounding neighborhoods.
As many as 48 police officers could be hired on a part-time basis. These officers, all of whom hold professional certificates from the State, will function in the same capacity as police officers who work for the Detroit Public Schools. The officers, who will be interviewed and selected by DPS officials, will work about five hours day and receive no benefits.
The Detroit Police Officers Association, whose members represent the city’s 2,300 patrol officers, will help bring its laid off members to the table. Union officials say 141 police officers from the Detroit Police Department have lost their jobs in recent months due to budget cutbacks.
This new partnership with the Detroit Police Officers Association comes on the heels of several robberies and break-ins that have occurred at or near some Detroit schools in the course of the last several months.
“We are moving with all deliberate speed to ensure the safety of all our students and employees,” said the Rev. Dr. Jimmy Womack, president of the Detroit Board of Education. “This is a short-term solution that will carry us through the rest of the year, but we believe it could be an effective short-term solution.”
“This is a short-term solution to a problem that’s been afflicting us for years,” added William F. Coleman III, superintendent of the Detroit Public Schools. “It is a pilot project for the balance of the school year. We are committed to implementing this plan in the course of the next few weeks. We are treating this as a state of emergency. In the meantime, we continue to review the long-term proposals by the city and the county to augment our police force. To this end, we have asked Reverend David Murray, the Chair of the board’s Safety Committee, to schedule public hearings on the Wayne County Sheriff\\\'s proposal. We believe that, although different, both the City and the Sheriff\\\'s proposal may offer viable long term solutions to the need to expand and improve our ability to protect our students and staff.
“In the short-term, however, we need to implement immediate measures to assure our students, staff and parents that we can provide a safe and secure learning environment.”
The District has set aside approximately $600,000 to pay for these new officers. The Detroit Board of Education is expected to hold a special meeting early next week to approve this measure, but it is a move that is already being roundly applauded.
“This is a win-win situation,” said Cheryl Smith, sergeant-at-arms for the Detroit Police Officers Association, the union representing the city’s patrol officers. “On one hand, this arrangement will ensure that many of our laid-off officers will continue to earn a living in their chosen profession. On the other hand, the professional experience of these police officers will also benefit the schools immensely. These officers could serve as resources for the schools and also as role models to our students.”
About the Detroit Public Schools
The Detroit Public Schools, founded in 1842, is one of the nation’s largest public school systems. Detroit Public Schools is a school district of choice and is open to children who live outside the city. The District offers a variety of highly competitive academic and career and technical programs.
