Letters from the Issue of December 13, 2001

I think we all recognize that in a perfect world there would not be a concern for the security of students, faculty, and staff. Unfortunately reality is brought home with headlines about the kinds of violent acts that are regularly imported into school environments. Today research into school violence is more focused, to the point that the most progressive school districts maintain a police presence in one form or another. In fact there are now more than 14,000 school-resource officers serving school districts throughout the nation. They exist because the infraction of twenty years ago, such as shirttails hanging out, has been supplanted by shirttails covering the occasional weapon.

I would like to address one specific part of Ms. Wakefield's article. She overheard a brief conversation between board member Robert Ingram and me. As most people know, Dr. Ingram had a long and distinguished career in local law enforcement. It was not inappropriate that he would mention someone he knew who had applied to be a school-resource officer. Recommendations are both expected and welcomed. It has been common practice for other police officers to recommend individuals they believe have what it takes to be successful in police work.

As the article noted, I said I would look into the status of the individual. Unfortunately I had to report back to Dr. Ingram that the applicant was rejected. As Dr. Ingram knows from his days as a police chief, simply because someone is recommended doesn't mean the individual can find his or her way through the application and background regimen.

The school district's police department continues to move in the right direction. More than eight million dollars secured from the federal government for community-oriented policing is a testament that we are progressing. The timing of this infusion of money is most important following the events of September 11 and amid the budget reductions from the State of Florida.

As teachers remain busy providing students the education that shapes their minds and character, the school police will be busy "protecting our future."

Pete Cuccaro, chief of police
Miami-Dade County Public Schools