Auon’tai Anderson says DPS board didn’t backtrack on SRO reversal, claims mayor issued ultimatum

DENVER — The Denver College Board member who led the cost in 2020 to section out faculty useful resource officers stated the board didn’t backtrack when it voted to reinstate SROs within the wake of Wednesday’s taking pictures and claimed the mayor threatened to make use of emergency powers if the board didn’t comply.

DPS Vice President Auon’tai Anderson made the statements throughout a Monday morning press convention he organized to handle questions following the taking pictures at East Excessive Schoolin Denver that injured two school members.

The taking pictures renewed cries from college students and fogeys to extend security on the faculty, together with the reintroduction of SROs again into Denver Public Colleges. Superintendent Dr. Alex Marrero echoed these calls and introduced that very same day that’s what was going to occur.

“When it comes to what we are able to anticipate at East from right here till the top of the college yr, in collaboration with Chief Thomas and with assist from our mayor and in addition communicated this to the Board of Schooling, that we’ll have two armed officers right here at East till the top of the college yr,” Marrero stated throughout a press briefing outdoors the college Wednesday.

The following day, the Denver Public College Board of Schooling suspended the controversial coverage and directed Marrero to develop a long-term security plan by the top of the summer season. College board members cited “a rise in gun violence inside our communities, which poses a risk to the security of our faculties,” as the explanation for the reversal.

DPS eliminated SROs from all faculty campusesin the summer season of 2020 amid protests over racial injustice following the killing of George Floyd by police. The shift away from an armed presence in faculties adopted concern that officers disproportionately arrest college students of colour.

When requested if the board backtracked when it suspended its 2020 choice, Anderson stated board members had been merely responding to what the neighborhood was demanding.

“We had over 1,000 emails, predominantly from people that had been impacted on the impacted faculty and in surrounding areas that had been saying that they honestly needed the return of faculty useful resource officers,” Anderson stated.

Anderson stated that stress from the neighborhood was not the one driving issue. The outspoken board member claims Mayor Michael Hancock threatened to make use of emergency powers to place armed officers again into faculties if the board didn’t act.

“The mayor was the one who put the stress on the district and once more needed to signal an govt order to deploy SROs and declare a public well being emergency like he did with vaccinations,” Anderson stated.

Nonetheless, the mayor’s workplace disputes this declare, saying in an announcement to Denver7, “The choice to return SROs to excessive faculties was Superintendent Marrero’s choice alone, which the Mayor inspired and helps, as a result of it’s the correct choice. There’s no fact to Director Anderson’s declare.”

Regardless of the backwards and forwards, Anderson stated funding for the redeployment of SROs again into DPS faculties shouldn’t be within the price range. He desires town to foot the invoice.

“With the non permanent reintroduction of SROs, we had been very clear the funding wants to come back from town,” he stated. “DPS would not have the price range to supply two cops per each highschool. And we’ve over we’ve nearly 80 excessive faculties within the district.”

Along with armed officers, Anderson stated the board is wanting so as to add psychological well being sources for college kids and workers.

“We have stated it have to be cops and counselors. We have requested for the mayor of Denver to supply psychological well being professionals to each single website that we’re offering an SRO. And so the ball is within the mayor’s court docket,” Anderson stated.

Armed Denver law enforcement officials might be again at East Excessive College starting subsequent Monday when college students return from spring break. Marrero has till June 30 to develop a long-term security plan primarily based on neighborhood enter earlier than he presents it to the board for assessment.

It’s unclear what impression bringing SROs again into faculty buildings may have on curbing gun violence throughout Denver faculties.

Numerous research have been completed on using SROs on campuses throughout the nation, however regardless of in-depth analysis, the impression they’ve on faculties stays inconclusive.