The Kent Cops in Schools Program is back. Kent Police will return to area elementary schools this school year as part of a regular visitation program to elementary schools.
The goal is to not only provide a safe environment, but to also establish strong relationships between officers, students and school personnel, according to a Kent Police media release.
In partnership with the Kent School District and beginning the first day of school, on Thursday, Aug. 29, officers will be assigned an elementary school. They will visit their school several times a week at various times.
During the visit officers will check-in and walk around the school interacting with students and staff. Officers will even be participating in random school emergency drills as well as other school events.
The program is a proactive approach that provides a visual presence of uniformed officers to enhance the security of school campuses throughout the community. Officers and school personnel will work together to ensure campus safety, as well as developing opportunities to meet with and mentor students.
“Now with officers in elementary schools, we are ensuring that we are doing everything in our ability to stay active and involved,” said detective Melanie Frazier. “We want students to feel safe and secure in their learning environment, and also be comfortable with officer presence.”
The Kent Police Department currently has full-time School Resource Officers assigned to all high schools and middle schools in the city limits.
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