New York City (NYC) parents ask New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Keechant Sewell to do more for their children's school safety.
The Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E. anti-violence group organized an event for young children to get to know cops and invited the Police Athletic League.
Among the event's guests was NYPD Commissioner Sewell, but instead of kids getting to know the cops more, the NYC parents took center stage to voice their concerns about their children's school safety.
NYC parents demand increased school security
The New York Post reported that Mayra Palacio, a 58-year-old grandmother who helps take care of her grandchildren, including a 9-year-old who attends KIPP Infinity Charter School in West Harlem, urged the commissioner to increase security and police presence around schools.
Palacio believes that there should be heightened security inside and outside the schools, and teachers and staff members must be more vigilant when students leave the school.
During the current academic year, there has been an increase in student shootings and stabbings, with three teenagers killed near their schools.
To address this issue, Palacio suggested that there should be more police presence around the schools to deter potential criminal activity and ensure the safety of students.
Another concerned parent, Marsha Taylor, whose children attend Global Community Charter School in Harlem, expressed similar concerns.
Taylor insisted that her children, who are eight and ten years old, take cell phones to class, even though the school frowns upon it.
She defends her decision, stating that in an emergency, she wants to be able to communicate with her children if they are on lockdown.
Taylor's concerns as a mother about safety reflect the anxiety many NYC parents feel regarding the safety of their children in and around school environments.
Read Also: Rising Juvenile Violence in NYC: Teen Student From Manhattan High School Pulls Gun on Classmate
NYC's increased school crimes
According to Fox5, crimes involving minors have recently increased significantly in New York City.
To address this surge in violence and crimes around school campuses, the NYPD has increased its presence on school premises to provide additional security.
Given the alarming increase in violence and shootings, particularly involving young people, the NYPD has launched a program to strengthen school safety.
As part of this initiative, police officers have been taken away from administrative duties and deployed to provide extra protection during school dismissals in high-risk schools.
According to AMNY, the New York City school panel approved a $43 million contract to further enhance children's school safety by installing an automatic door-locking system and cameras in all public school buildings.
The contract was approved at a meeting attended by Schools Chancellor David Banks and the New York City education department's school security director.
Symbrant Technologies, the contractor for the door-locking system, aims to protect students from outside threats, making children in NYC public schools safer.
The funds for this initiative will come from the DOE's capital budget, with $78 million allocated for the system in Mayor Eric Adam's preliminary 2023-2024 budget.
The decision to enhance security measures in public schools reflects the pressing need to prioritize safety and protect students from harm.
The increase in crime involving minors is alarming, and schools and law enforcement need to work together to address this issue.
By implementing stricter security measures, such as the automatic door-locking system and increased police presence, the community can help create a safer and more secure environment for students to learn and grow.
