National

Police officer program to end in Vancouver schools

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 27 Apr, 2021 04:35 PM

Uniformed police officers will no longer be assigned to Vancouver public schools after trustees voted to end its school liaison officer program.

The program has been under review for almost a year due to concerns that uniformed officers make some students anxious or upset, including many identifying as Black, Indigenous or people of colour.

It’s w/a heavy ❤️ that I think of all the #youth who will no longer have an #SLO or benefit from the countless programs they run. @VancouverPD was hopeful that all #stakeholders could have worked together to find a path forward while preserving the program @VSB39. @VPDYouth https://t.co/7Aq8paFwja
— Fiona Wilson (@FionaWilsonVPD) April 27, 2021

Trustees voted eight to one Monday in favour of a motion to halt the program at the end of June.

The decision is supported by several groups, including the Vancouver District Parent Advisory Council and associations representing elementary and secondary school teachers in the city.

The school board will now work with Vancouver police and RCMP to create what the motion defines as a "new relationship" developing "trauma-informed approaches to working with children and youth."

Sgt. Steve Addison says in a statement that Vancouver police were open to an "evolving" relationship that could include roles for plainclothes officers in city schools.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Bank of Canada warns in report of business, household debt from COVID-19

The Bank of Canada says there are signs in the country's financial markets that suggest concern about the ability of companies to weather the COVID-19 economic crisis.

Bank of Canada warns in report of business, household debt from COVID-19

Masks and closed fitting rooms: Reopened retail to look vastly different

Shoppers at recently reopened Sleep Country stores looking to test mattresses or pillows will find a disposable protective barrier between them and the product. When Aritzia stores open soon in Vancouver, customers will be able to ask staff for face masks or gloves to wear while they peruse clothing racks.

Masks and closed fitting rooms: Reopened retail to look vastly different

PM wants answers from China, other countries on early days of COVID-19

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says there are many questions for countries, particularly China, around the origins of COVID-19 and how they reacted in the early days of the pandemic. At the same time, Trudeau told a daily news briefing, the spread of the virus requires a global, co-ordinated response.

PM wants answers from China, other countries on early days of COVID-19

Chiefs, governments to sign rights understanding after B.C. pipeline protests

A virtual signing ceremony on Thursday marks the start of a new relationship between the hereditary chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en Nation and the federal and B.C. governments after tumultuous gas pipeline protests earlier this year, say government leaders.

Chiefs, governments to sign rights understanding after B.C. pipeline protests

Suspect in alleged bus assault died of apparent overdose: transit police

Metro Vancouver Transit Police say a suspect in an alleged violent attack against a woman on a bus died of an apparent drug overdose a week after the incident in April.