Vancouver School Liaison Officer program changes include uniform, training

Vancouver schools will soon have police officers in hallways again as the Vancouver Police Department reinstates its School Liaison Officer (SLO) program.

But with the return, there are set to be some changes.

At a police board meeting Thursday, Insp. Gary Hiar shared early details of the updated program, including a new golf polo and shorts uniform, smaller guns and batons, and more training.

At a police board meeting Thursday, Insp. Gary Hiar spoke about changes to the School Liaison Officer program. (CityNews Image)

Preeti Faridkot, a Vancouver School Board (VSB) trustee, says the changes should help foster a “safe learning environment.”

“The cars are going to be unmarked now. There’s going to be more diverse hiring and also increased cultural awareness…I think it’s a great idea, it’s going to provide a safe learning environment for the students, and that’s all we want,” Faridkot said.

Preeti Faridkot, a Vancouver School Board (VSB) trustee. (Kier Junos, CityNews Image)

Another VSB trustee says she didn’t want officers to wear uniforms or carry guns at school if the program came back, but that “they are moving in the right direction.”

“Of course, I’m a little disappointed. But if it’s something that can be addressed on an ongoing basis, I think we have to keep making sure that our students are feeling safe, that our students are feeling supported in the schools – that’s the most important thing for me,” Lois Chan-Pedley said.

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• Vancouver School Board begins mulling return of SLO program

• Vancouver School Board trustees want changes to police officer program

Although it is coming back with some changes, some say the program is still unacceptable for students.

C’tan’Marjorie Dumont, the vice president of the Vancouver Elementary and Adult Society, says her organization is holding its ground on this issue.

“We should not have police in schools. The SLO program has no place in our system,” Dumont said.

“It’s retraumatizing our students and the Black and Indigenous students and staff…We will do everything in our power to even reconsider their bringing back the SLO program.”

In May of 2021, school trustees voted to get rid of the program with those in favour of axing it saying it negatively impacted Black and Indigenous students.

But after the October election,  ABC party trustees voted to bring it back.

Faridkot says she’s confident in the work the VPD and school board are doing to improve the program.“I want to ensure that – when it’s coming back, it’s coming back as a reimagined program. It’s nothing like we’ve had in the past,” Faridkot said.

Plans are underway to launch the new SLO program in September.