IPE/BC is an independent, non-partisan organization, however we recognize that IPE/BC Fellows and guest authors hold a range of views and interests relative to public schools, education issues, and the political landscape in BC. Perspectives is an opportunity for Fellows and others to share their ideas in short, accessible essays.
The Role of School Police Liaison Officers: Do We Really Need Them?
Sharon O’Dornan
December 11, 2024
Education Minister Lisa Beare has threatened to fire the elected school board of Greater Victoria (SD 61) if they do not provide a revised “safety plan.” It appears that the safety plan must include the reintroduction of the School Police Liaison Officers (SPLO) program.
In schools, staff work diligently to ensure that programs are effective. Measurable goals are created, data is gathered, and results are reviewed regularly. Reports regarding student progress are generated at prescribed intervals. These reports are shared with parents and relevant school staff, covering everything from classroom achievements to individualized programs such as speech-language therapy. The information is securely, confidentially stored for future reference as needed. The rationale behind this process is clear: if we do not measure our efforts, we cannot determine whether our interventions are truly making a difference.
However, school board chair Nicole Duncan stated (in an interview with Gregor Craigie on On The Island CBC radio, December 10, 2024) that she has received no response to her requests for data and reports regarding the Greater Victoria Police Department’s previous involvement in the SPLO program. Police Chief Del Manak has provided occasional anecdotes about the program, but that is far from the comprehensive data needed to assess its overall effectiveness.
Schools operate with a great deal of transparency. Classroom teachers provide daily plans that are utilized by themselves or a teacher-on-call. Support staff, such as English Language Learning teachers and contracted specialists like occupational therapists, follow universal referral systems, administer standardized assessments, document observations and provide reports . Caseload information is readily available to school administrators, and priorities are confidentially discussed during school-based team meetings.
Before I retired from my role as an itinerant speech-language pathologist in SD 61, I found it difficult to understand the role of the SPLO. The transparency regarding their schedules and duties was lacking. If I wasn’t clear about why a police officer was standing in the office or walking in the halls, I can only imagine how unclear the students might have been. This lack of clarity raises important questions about whether the program could be contributing to profiling. It feels strange to have a police presence in a public institution without a specific, stated requirement for their involvement. Why, as a society, do we believe that groups of children require a police presence to be safe, especially when there is no concrete data to demonstrate that this approach actually ensures their safety?
As schools work hard to maintain a safe and supportive environment for students, the question remains: Does the presence of School Police Liaison Officers truly contribute to the safety of our schools, or is it simply an unproven assumption? Without clear data and transparent reporting on the program’s effectiveness, it’s difficult to justify its widespread adoption. Perhaps it’s time for a deeper, more data-driven conversation about how best to ensure the safety and well-being of students without relying on programs that lack measurable evidence of success. It’s crucial that we continue to explore alternative solutions that prioritize student welfare while addressing the complexities of modern school safety.
Sharon O’Dornan retired from the Greater Victoria school district (SD61) in 2020, after a 34-year career as a speech language pathologist. During that time, she worked in the Vancouver, North Vancouver and Victoria school districts.
For further reading on this important and topical issue, see:
What is the alternative to police in schools?
“Relationship Building” and the Normalization of Police in Schools
Victoria School Board says lack of communication upended safety plan
Not everyone is welcoming police officers back to schools
Five reasons why school policy officers may not be the most effective way to prevent violence
Vancouver votes to reinstate the SLO program
