Controversial school liaison officer program returning to Vancouver schools

The Vancouver School Board voted Monday night to return police officers to its schools under the previously disbanded “School Liaison Officer” program.

Re-introducing the program was a goal of newly elected ABC Vancouver trustees, after the program was scrapped by the previous school board over concerns it adversely affected marginalized students.

In a statement, the school board says district staff will write to Vancouver Police Department Chief Const. Adam Palmer and the police board to request a “revised and reimagined SLO program” be implemented.

The passing of the reintroduction motion by the board comes after the Human Rights Commissioner spoke out last week against re-instating the program, saying there are other ways to address safety and security in schools.

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In a recommendation directed to the British Columbia School Trustees Association, commissioner Kasari Govender is asking for school districts not to reinstate the cancelled program.

Govender says she is specifically concerned about the potential negative outcomes for marginalized students, and unless school districts can prove why police officers should be in schools, she recommends putting a stop to the programs.

“Unless, and until, there is sufficient research to show the value of these programs, putting the interests, and needs, and perspectives of racialized children and their families… at the centre of our research,” she said.

The Vancouver School Board hopes the new SLO program will be in effect in schools by the new school year, beginning September 2023.

“That takes into consideration the thoughtful inputs and opportunities from the 2021 SLO engagement report along with input by stakeholders and the community in the last several weeks.”

During Monday’s meeting, trustee Preeti Faridkot said police don’t belong in schools, but neither do gangs, drugs and violence.

“None of those things belongs in schools, as well. So, we need to look at everyone’s perspective on that,” Faridkot said.