Related article:
Calif. police pulling officers from school campuses
By Tony Burchyns
Vallejo Times-Herald
VALLEJO, Calif. — Vallejo school district and city officials announced Monday they have tentatively agreed to ensure continued police presence at Vallejo schools for the remainder of the school year.
“This is important because it will help to continue the healthy, safe environment we have right now,” Vallejo City Unified School District spokesman Jason Hodge said Monday after the hour-long meeting at City Hall.
Hodge would not say how many officers would remain on campus patrol. Details of the agreement will be announced no earlier than Friday, he said.
The Vallejo Police Department had intended to eliminate its six-person Youth Services Unit starting next week, after students break for winter vacation.
The unit has provided campus patrols for the district’s five high schools -- which include two alternative schools -- and four middle schools as needed.
Police Chief Bob Nichelini said the city’s bankruptcy had reduced the department’s sworn staff to 115 from 158 two years ago. He said last week the department could no longer assign officers to schools because they were needed on the street.
The district has been paying half the salaries of police officers assigned to the schools.
Nichelini could not be reached Monday afternoon about the tentative agreement.
“There will be some changes, and the details will be announced Friday or next week at the latest,” Hodge said. “But the coverage will continue with no gap in service.”
Vallejo Mayor Osby Davis, who attended the City Hall meeting, said both sides wanted to continue to provide a safe environment for students to learn.
“There were some miscommunications, maybe in some instances, a lack of communication,” he said. “But the point is we have resolved the situation to the extent possible under these circumstances.”
The school district has considered hiring security guards in the past but district officials are concerned they would not be trained to work with young people and could become a target of violence.
“It was a very constructive meeting,” school board president Dan Glaze said. “We are looking forward to working closer with the police department in the future.”
School Superintendent Mary Bull, two school board members, Davis, City Manager Joe Tanner, Nichelini and Hodge attended the meeting.
Copyright 2008 Vallejo Times-Herald