Petition asking for removal of school resource officers

West Lafayette Community School Corporation are wanting to see school resource officers removed from schools within the district as part of a recent petition.

Corporation alumni are continuing their push for racial justice reform.

In a recent petition, alumni highlight policy changes they believe would help support people of color in local schools.

As news 18's balint szalavari reports, a major change they're hoping to see is the removal of school resource officers.

Chaubey: "we're looking for a fundemental restructuring of the police department."

Many west lafayette community school corporation graduates like ila (ee-luh) chaubey (cha-bay) are hoping to see school resource officers removed from schools.

They believe such officers have added a level of fear for some students in recent times.

Chaubey: "sros make students uncomfortable.

Having a police officer in a school is going agitate students.

It's going to make them uncomfortable.

You're not going to want to go to an sro when you have an issue."

According to chaubey, alumni want officers to be replaced with social workers, psyschologists and mental health workers.

She says such resources would better suit a student's needs.

Chaubey: "mental health counselors are far more effective in actually, you now, speaking through issues, talking to students when they have an issue whether that's at home or at school.

All of that training makes them far far more effective when dealing with students."

On tuesday, sheriff bob goldsmith announced plans to add two new school resource officers to their program with the tippecanoe school corporation.

When asked about removing officers from schools, goldsmith was against the idea.

Goldsmith: "to take the officers out of the school in my opinion is totally absurd."

While the department is not partnered with the west lafayette school district, goldsmith believes having an officer in every school is crucial, especially in the event of an emergency.

Goldsmith: "gosh forbid it happens that we have an activie shooter situation or a mass shooting at a school, they're going to want an officer there."

And goldsmith says having an officer as a resource allows students to form special bonds with their local law enforcement.

Goldsmith: "proving those programs and working with the kids and working with the teachers that helps us in the future."

In tippecanoe county, balint szalavari, news 18.

(cha-bay) chaubey says alumni are currently putting together a list of stories of racism students faced from sros, staff and other students.

She says they plan to present the list within the next few weeks.

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