As the Milwaukee Police Department hustles to comply with a court-ordered mandate, thirty-eight officers commenced their Basic School Resource Officer (SRO) training yesterday, aiming to instill a stronger police presence in Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS). This move comes on the heels of a contentious legal struggle, wherein a judge set a deadline until Saturday for the stationing of officers at MPS, as reported by WKOW. Failure to adhere to this deadline spells out daily fines of $1,000 for the city.
The National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) is spearheading the training, which includes a 40-hour course stretched over the week, held at the Milwaukee Police Academy. In a statement obtained by WISN, NASRO's Executive Director Mo Canady shared an optimistic outlook: "I want this community to know that they have the opportunity here to experience something really special. Having these very special law enforcement officers interacting with their students on a daily basis, it can really be a game changer." Canady is personally leading the SRO training.
The pressing need for SRO training was underscored by a legal scuffle last month, where Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman faced stern rebuke in court. Judge David Borowski held the city in contempt for missing previous deadlines to return officers to MPS. This judicial pressure emphasizes the high stakes involved for city administrators, mirroring the critical lens through which the entire SRO integration is evaluated by the community.
Despite the public importance of these trainings, Milwaukee police declined to allow media access to the trainings, sparking curiosity and concern among local parents. One such parent, Parish Davis, conveyed expectations to FOX6: "How to protect the kids, for safety reasons and making them feel comfortable in their environments," said Parish. Inquiries by FOX6 to directly observe the training were rebuffed by the MPD, but the news outlet managed to interview the instructor, Canady, who emphasized, "We want SROs to be advocates for students."
