- Under section 2590-i(1) of the state Education Law, “[t]he principal shall be the administrative and instructional leader of the school. . . . ”
- Patrol Guide section 215-13 states that “the desires of school personnel may be considered” by a police officer in determining whether a student arrest is warranted and that “the views of school personnel are NOT controlling.” (capitalization in original) This provision is clearly at odds with Patrol Guide sections 215-16 and 215-17 and Chancellor’s Regulation A-412 III(b), cited below.
- Under section 215-16 of the Patrol Guide, the jurisdiction of SSAs and school-assigned police officers is over “public school-related criminal incident[s].” This section further states: “When a public school-related criminal incident occurs: a. On public school grounds . . . SCHOOL SAFETY AGENT/U.M.O.S. [Uniformed Member of the Service] ASSIGNED TO THE SCHOOL 1. Request police response . . . 2. Request School Safety Agent Level 3 to respond. 3. Notify school principal/designee.”
- Patrol Guide section 215-17 states that, “[w]hen taking police action at Board of Education facilities . . . [a] uniformed member of the service [should] . . . 2. Confer with principal/school staff, except if exigent circumstances exist, when entering Board of Education school/facility to take police action.”
- Chancellor’s Regulation A-412 III(b) states: “If the incident does not require an immediate arrest or other immediate action, the SSA and/or NYPD must, to the fullest extent practicable, consult with the principal/designee prior to placing the student under arrest or issuing any form of criminal process.”
- What written guidelines, protocols or other materials, if any, aside from those identified above, govern the actions of police officers and SSAs in schools?
- What special training and/or training materials are provided to police officers, SSAs, and school officials regarding the practices and policies of police officers and SSAs in schools?
- Is there ongoing coordination and oversight of such trainings?
- Is there joint training of school officials, and SSAs/school-assigned police officers?
- When there is a conflict over disciplining a student, whose decision prevails: the principal’s, the teacher’s, the SSA’s, or the police officer’s?
- What is the procedure for a parent, student, or school employee to follow if s/he has a question or complaint about the conduct of SSAs or police officers? How are members of the school community notified of the procedure?
- What mechanisms, if any, are in place to evaluate the activities of police officers and SSAs in schools?
- How are the numbers of SSAs and police officers per school determined?
- What weapons, if any, do police officers and SSAs carry in schools (including, but not limited to guns, mace, pepper spray, “stink bombs”)?