In Florida, the District Court of Appeal of Florida rejected a lawsuit brought by parents to prevent “school guardians” from carrying firearms on school campuses. Florida law requires that every school have “safe school officers,” using either partnerships with law enforcement agencies or school employees who volunteer to be appointed as “school guardians.” 1006.12, Fla. Stat. The court found that the plain language of the comprehensive the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act authorizes school guardians to carry concealed firearms on school campuses. Dozier v. Duval Cty. Sch. Bd.
— In New York, tri-village police chiefs in Fort Plain, St. Johnsville, and Canajoharie have determined that police reforms to improve the perceptions of law enforcement are creating positive change. Under state law, police departments are required to submit information regarding policy and practice changes to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services to qualify for further DCJS funding. The primary adjustments in the school resource officer programs include training in de-escalation, bias, and curbing the use of force.
— In Iowa, members of the Des Moines School Board say that they support a proposal to remove police officers from schools, but won’t vote to make it so. Instead, the board will monitor the management of the situation by the school superintendent to develop a replacement for the SRO program.
— In California, officials in Los Angeles approved a plan to cut the school district’s police force by a third, eliminating 70 sworn officers and 62 non-sworn officers leaving approximately 200 officers on campuses. The plan includes a shift of funding to hire more social workers and mental health professionals to handle problems instead.