School division hopes to have more police working with students

At least one Winnipeg-area division wants to expand the number of uniformed police officers working in its schools.

There are currently 18 members of the Winnipeg Police Service part of the School Resource Officer program, a countrywide community policing initiative that was first introduced to Winnipeg in 2002.

Its intent, according to Public Safety Canada, is to provide law enforcement officer support to school communities "with a focus on prevention and early intervention activities." The Winnipeg program is funded by the province, police force and school boards.

"Our school resource officer has been a positive presence at six of our schools for the 201920 school year," said Amanda Gaudes, a spokeswoman for River East Transcona School Division, in a statement to theFree Press.

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