COUNCIL MEMBERS ANDREW COHEN & RITCHIE TORRES CALL ON THE CITY TO ASSIGN SCHOOL SAFETY OFFICERS IN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS

  This morning, Council Members Andrew Cohen and Ritchie Torres called for the passage of legislation that would require the NYPD to assign school safety agents to any public or private school that requests one. Introduction 65, a bill submitted by Council Member Greenfield addresses the most basic need for all students attending school in New York City: a safe learning environment. Council Members Cohen and Torres spoke at Salanter Akiba Riverdale Academy, with Principal Rabbi Krauss and students of SAR.

School safety agents are trained by and work for the NYPD. Funding for school safety guards comes from the Department of Education. School safety agents are unarmed, but are equipped with police radios that give them a direct link to the NYPD. Greenfield's legislation would require the NYPD to assign a school safety agent to any school, public or private, that requests an agent.

Introduction 565 has the support of 46 of 51 New York City Council Members. The Committee on Education has held a hearing on the bill, which will be voted on in Committee and then presented to the entire Council for a vote. 

“Every child in New York City deserves to be in a safe school environment. As members of City government we have an obligation to ensure that the educational environment of New York City’s Schools is maintained while protecting the safety of each student. This safety measure is an essential step towards safeguarding our children as we cannot ignore the vulnerability of our schools, public or non-public,” said Council Member Andrew Cohen.

“Safety is a fundamental right for students attending school in New York City, regardless of whether their school is private or public,” said Council Member Ritchie Torres. “Today we are calling on the city to provide basic safety for the 230,000 students attending non-public schools in New York City. This legislation will likely pass a vote in the City Council, but the Council and Mayor must then allocate funds to hire these additional school safety agents.”

To my question of how this will not violate the separation of Church and State provisions, the answer was that placing School Safety Officers in non-public schools would not be in violation of that provision. To my question of how much the cost to place School Safety Officers in all schools would be, Councilman Torres estimated around $50 Million Dollars. These School Safety officers would also be stationed at the main entrances, and not patrol the hallways or classrooms unless there was an emergency. 

Councilman Andrew Cohen tells why he supports Intro 65. As he stands in front of the main entrance to Salanter Akiba Riverdale Academy, a non-public school in his district. 

Councilman Ritchie Torres answers one of my questions as to the cost of this program citywide.

Rabbi Krauss Principal of S.A.R. thanks both council members for their support of Intro 65, as he has said many times recently that the tines have changed in the world. S.A.R. is undergoing a small renovation that will add to the security of the school, but an NYPD School Safety officer would be a welcome addition.