New Westminster schools end police liaison program

A second school district in British Columbia has ended a program that put uniformed officers in its elementary, middle and secondary schools, but trustees are not rejecting further links with police.

New Westminster school board members voted Tuesday night to immediately end the district's child and youth liaison officer program due to concerns that armed officers could be disturbing to racialized or LGBTQ youth.

A letter from the board to the chief of the New Westminster Police says cancellation of the program is not a reflection on the department or its staff.

The letter says the board looks forward to working with the force to develop a new relationship.

Our #SD40 Board took important step to discontinue Child and Youth Liaison Officer Program in @newwestschools tonight. Not taken lightly, and thanks to all those who shared their perspectives and the excellent facilitation and leadership from Chair @gurbeans pic.twitter.com/DuOozs6OCj

— Mark Gifford (@contactgifford) April 28, 2021

Trustees in Vancouver voted Monday to cancel that district's school liaison officer program at the end of June, in a decision the Vancouver Police Department called "political" and "disappointing."

The Vancouver School Board has also proposed a "new relationship" with police to develop "trauma-informed approaches to working with children and youth." (News1130)