Lethbridge school resource officers renamed, adopt broader mandate – Lethbridge

The Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) is transferring in a brand new course relating to supporting youth.

“Our officers who have been previously faculty useful resource officers are actually youth engagement officers,” mentioned performing inspector of the sphere unit with Lethbridge Police Service Cameron Van Roon.

Earlier this 12 months, the Neighborhood Engagement Unit carried out an evaluation of the earlier mannequin of utilizing faculty useful resource officers.

It was decided that they might now be known as youth engagement officers (YEO) with the youth engagement unit (YEU).

“It’s nonetheless very centered on the faculties, however we’re taking that further step now to additionally look towards college students who will not be actively within the faculties which are in want of some assist,” Van Roon defined.

Targeted on offering outreach to youth each out and in of colleges, YEOs are sources for early intervention, optimistic mentorship, and recommending assist providers.

As properly, they effort to construct optimistic relationships and hold younger offenders out of the prison justice system by way of diversionary applications.

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“It takes a singular officer to know on that continuum of policing the place intervention and prevention suits in earlier than there are these forms of prison behaviors,” mentioned Anita Lethbridge-Gross. “They’re instrumental in serving in that want.”

Lethbridge-Gross, the coordinator of counselling and wellness on the Holy Spirit Catholic College Division, mentioned the partnership with police has all the time been vital in retaining the faculties protected.

“Alongside that, an much more vital piece are these relationships that our officers have with college students, with mother and father, with households.

“No matter a reputation change, I believe it’s a pure evolution. It’s wanted, it’s embraced, and really a lot supported.”

Van Roon mentioned the youth engagement officers will work all 12 months, versus the earlier format the place they might be assigned to totally different models

“With the varsity useful resource program, oftentimes the officers have been being taken when there’s not faculty in session, and put again on a patrol staff or totally different locations,” he defined.

“We’re trying to have our youth engagement officers proceed by way of the summer season, by way of vacation instances, on this function as a result of that means we’re not beginning recent once more with college students each time a brand new faculty 12 months begins.”

This new course may even see partnerships with non-school organizations, together with Youth Justice Committee, Youngsters and Household Companies, and numerous youth properties.