St Andrew South police to enhance school safety with more SROs

In a bid to bolster safety and security in schools, the St Andrew South Police Division is ramping up its efforts with a focus on increasing the number of school resource officers (SROs) in educational institutions within the division.

According to Superintendent Damion Manderson, head of the division, SROs play a vital role in maintaining order and imparting essential life skills to students.

Speaking at the division's annual elderly and children’s treat last week, Manderson announced that two additional SROs will be joining the existing four who were put in place over recent months, bringing the total to six.

"As part of our commitment to this mission of safer schools, I am proud... to announce and make public to you that in addition to the four SROs who we have already had over the past month or two, we have now added another two SROs," Manderson stated.

He stressed the division's commitment to working with school principals and the community to create safer spaces for students.

"We met with your principals, and we made a commitment that we're gonna find resources to put more police officers in our schools..., and we are sticking to that commitment," he indicated.

According to the division's top cop, "The (Police) High Command of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is sticking to that commitment, and we will continue to work with you."

He added that, "This increase (in SROs) reflects the deliberate and ongoing efforts to strengthen the partnerships with schools, and to ensure that every child can learn and grow in a safe environment."

In elaborating on the importance of a safe environment for students, Manderson pointed to the correlation between safe schools and safer communities.

"When schools are safe, communities are safe; where communities are safe, schools are safe. When our children feel safe, they can focus on learning, they can focus on their dreams, and they can focus on their achievements," Manderson declared.