In an effort to keep our schools safer, a local police department has initiated an increased presence program called ‘Operation School Guardian.’
The goal is to increase police visibility of the schools in Swatara Township. The visits are unannounced and include foot patrols on the property inside and outside of the school.
“We've always been concerned but after Newtown we decided to ramp-up efforts are schools,” explained Swatara Township Police Lieutenant Thomas Stouffer.
Operation School Guardian is an awareness initiative that helps students and school staff get used to seeing police officers inside and around the school but it also helps the police department as well.
“It helps the officers learn the floor plans of the schools just a little bit better and expose the kids to police officer’s presence, which many of them are not used to,” Stouffer told us.
The visits are unannounced and are more involved than just patrolling school property.
Being both inside and outside the school requires officers to make regular lunch visits with students and staff and to speak with them about issues in the school
Operation School Guardian works hand-in-hand with another program, which is to develop programs specific for each schools needs, such as a bullying program or a drug abuse awareness program.
The goal is to increase police visibility of the schools in Swatara Township. The visits are unannounced and include foot patrols on the property inside and outside of the school.
“We've always been concerned but after Newtown we decided to ramp-up efforts are schools,” explained Swatara Township Police Lieutenant Thomas Stouffer.
Operation School Guardian is an awareness initiative that helps students and school staff get used to seeing police officers inside and around the school but it also helps the police department as well.
“It helps the officers learn the floor plans of the schools just a little bit better and expose the kids to police officer’s presence, which many of them are not used to,” Stouffer told us.
The visits are unannounced and are more involved than just patrolling school property.
Being both inside and outside the school requires officers to make regular lunch visits with students and staff and to speak with them about issues in the school
Operation School Guardian works hand-in-hand with another program, which is to develop programs specific for each schools needs, such as a bullying program or a drug abuse awareness program.