— In California, the United States District Court ruled that a school resource officer is not necessarily obligated to “follow all requests or directions by (a school administrator).” The court dismissed a case involving a student who was brought to the office of the principal after disrupting class. The administrator requested the presence of the SRO, who upon arriving to the office, handcuffed the student. The court ruled that the principal would not be responsible for any excessive force by the SRO simply based on their daily collaboration because, “(the SRO’s) law enforcement status and apparent obligation to address crime and maintain security and safety would seem inconsistent with (the principal), a non-law enforcement official, having the ability to direct and supervise (the SRO). That (the SRO) followed a request by (the principal) does not mean that (the SRO) was obligated to follow all requests or directions by (the principal).” The court noted that it was “unaware of any cases that have discussed a principal or other school official’s ability or authority to supervise a school resource officer employed by a city police department.” The court concluded that, “a resource officer …remains a police officer, irrespective of his status as being assigned to a school as a school resource officer.” J.M. v. Parlier Unified School District
— In Virginia, the Alexandria City School Board and Alexandria Police Department are planning to deploy school resource officers back into schools. The school board removed SROs from schools earlier, but a spate of campus incidents led to demands by students and parents to reinstate the school resource officer program.
— In Wisconsin, officials in the Milwaukee Public Schools say that students walked out of a high school in protest to what they call a dangerous learning environment. The students want to see more security and police in the school. The student who organized the walk-out said, “I’m seeing it for myself. People are walking around the school carrying. People are walking around the school with pocket knives, brass knuckles, pepper spray, everything.” We’re telling (the administration) this and they’re just blowing it off.”
— In California, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees voted to reinstate Student Resource Officers on school campuses. The school district had eliminated the school policing program for the 2021-22 school year, but concerns about campus safety grew after a 17-year-old student at Aptos High was stabbed to death on campus in August.