Brantford Police have received a warm invitation to return to Catholic high schools.
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Rick Petrella, the chair of the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board, appeared at last week’s police board meeting to personally invite the department to enter talks about resuming the School Officer Resource program.
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“You are always welcome in our schools,” said Petrella, adding his board wants to set up a pilot project where the school board would help to share the costs of resource officers.
“We want to get this conversation going and welcome you guys back to our communities.”
A school resource officer programs were paused at both boards in 2020 due to the pandemic. Officers also encountered push-back at the Grand Erie District School Board.
That board introduced a review of the idea of officers in schools, asking for input from staff, students and parents.
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This spring, Postmedia reported an OPP officer was told official he couldn’t attend his child’s career day in uniform at a Grand Erie school for fear of traumatizing children. The board later apologized for the incident, calling it a miscommunication.
At the time, having high school resource officers was still under review while other police-associated programs were canceled.
Since then, the Grand Erie board has said officers are welcome in schools and introduced a new program that means police can be invited to attend schools informally.
“The Catholic board never did kick us out when the public board did,” said Police Chief Rob Davis, speaking remotely at the board meeting.
“I have a few concerns we need to consider but this is great news. I look forward to the partnership.”
Petrella said that his board has already earmarked funds to put toward the return of police resource officers.
“We’ve put together a go-forward plan and just need the buy-in of the board and the police service board. You will never be kicked out.”
@EXPSGamble
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