The new school security contract is the result of a cooperative effort among the MPD, DCPS and the DC Office of Contracting and Procurement. Together, we developed a comprehensive RFP and completed a thorough evaluation of the offerors who responded. The proposed new contract has been presented to the DC Council for approval. The contract is noteworthy because it sets standards for the selection and training of school security personnel. It establishes integrity and performance standards for personnel (including regular drug testing of employees). And it provides for strict and regular auditing of the contractor’s performance in meeting the provisions of the contract. These are all critically important reforms that will go a long way toward improving the quality of security services and the sense of safety in our schools.

Even before the legislation on school security was enacted, the MPD took a number of steps to enhance school safety using the resources at our disposal. For example, the MPD created a new Office of Security Services, headed by an assistant chief, to help plan and oversee the transfer of school safety (as well as other security responsibilities) to the MPD. In addition, our Department substantially increased the number of School Resource Officers this school year, to 99 officers and 14 supervisors. Based on a risk analysis the MPD conducted, SROs have been assigned to middle, junior and senior high schools throughout the District. All of these schools have at least one SRO; those deemed to be at the highest risk have several officers.

School Resource Officers and their sergeants not only provide a uniformed police presence during school hours and after-school events; they also facilitate critical coordination with the neighborhood patrol officers in the communities where schools are located. From the tragic shooting death of James Richardson inside Ballou Senior High School 15 months ago to any number of other incidents of school violence, we know that crime problems in our neighborhoods often end up in our schools – and vice versa. The MPD is working hard to prevent this spill-over of crime between schools and neighborhoods by fully integrating school safety into our broader strategy of community policing, what we call “Policing for Prevention.”

School Resource Officers and sergeants are detailed to the police districts where the schools are located. This places them in the same chain of command as neighborhood patrol officers, and provides them with access to the same information and resources about crime in the community. The sergeants help ensure that patrol officers working in the vicinity of the school pay attention to the area around the school and share information and coordinate efforts with the SROs assigned to the schools. School safety is included in the broader crime prevention plans that are developed by the various Police Service Areas (or PSAs). Regional Assistant Chiefs, District Commanders and PSA lieutenants are all encouraged to develop relationships with the schools in their areas of command. And anytime a Principal has an issue about a neighborhood crime or disorder problem that impacts the safety of students and staff, he or she is encouraged to contact the Commander of the Police District where the school is located. So coordination between school safety and neighborhood safety is a critical element of our overall strategy.