Let’s give new SRO program a chance

Let’s give it a chance. The La Crosse school district is about to begin a new arrangement with the city police department to put resource officers in schools. On the heels of the nation’s racial reckoning, the deal is different, with fewer officers and less cost to taxpayers. The city still needs to formally approve the memorandum of understanding that formalizes the deal, typically a routine affair. But some are still pressing for the SRO program to come to an end, hoping to convince City Hall to take a stand. They say some students distrust police and vice versa. Impassioned speakers pleaded for not signing the deal, saying they don’t want any officers in their schools. Certainly there is a level of distrust among some, but is that the majority? The nation’s debate over race issues has put police under a microscope. They no doubt know that their every move is being watched. But this is also an opportunity for police in schools to address student’s fear of police and to help foster a positive relationship between police and students. That is really the genesis of the entire SRO program. City hall shouldn’t stand in the way of that. Let’s give this new deal a chance to work, and hope for a positive outcome. We might find out we’re a lot more alike than we are different.