BEVERLY HILLS—Sandra Spagnoli, Police Chief for the Beverly Hills Police Department is recommending the city to fund the temporary security measures that supplement the School Resource Officer program through May 31, which is the last day of school.
According to a press release from the city of Beverly Hills, the decision came out of ongoing discussions between the Beverly Hills Unified School District and the city of Beverly Hills about the district’s implementation of enhancing security measures. The plan was adopted earlier in March by the Beverly Hills City Council, augmenting the Department’s School Resource Officer program and Youth Services Division which consists of two police officers and one detective. City Council approved an additional three officers for a total of five officers dedicated to the schools, one for each school.
The temporary plan has one officer at each school, in addition to an Adopt-a-School officer deployment, until the district has updated security and safety plans and has more contemporary programs in place. The original 45-day plan aimed to enhancing safety in the region with a strict timeline.
It will not be enough time to complete the basic security assessment completed by an independent firm. The goal for success or safety in schools is a three-prong approach, where the BHPD and other city departments work as a team with the BHUSD, students and parents.
