Safety First at Peach
By Kenneth Perkins
Peach Elementary has a new BFF : the Arlington Police Department .
The relationship was introduced to the school during a pair of assemblies that informed students that officers would now be strategically placed near the school with the job of handing out snack goodies as the students pass by on their way home .
Of course , there is more to it than that .
Walk Students Home is an initiative designed to increase school safety and address some community concerns . Many of the 900-plus students enrolled at Peach live near the school and walk or bike there .
Peach Principal Dr . Stephanie Lee got the idea from Hale Elementary , which has used officers to interact with students near a well-traveled bridge that connects the school and a nearby neighborhood . That route to and from school had not always been safe . The school was constantly receiving calls from parents and neighbors reporting children as young as 6 years old walking in the street .
Hale partnered with APD , and officers were stationed near the bridge where they would talk with students and often walk with them over the bridge . Hale Principal Claudia Morales-Herrera said incidences went down , as did calls from parents . Kids felt safe .
“ It was a more positive environment , for sure ,” Herrera said . “ And not just outside our doors when the kids went home but inside the classroom .”
At Peach , Lee has fielded similar reports of students in or too near the street .
Officers will be placed at what Lee considers hot spots , one being the corner of Lamar Boulevard and Baird Farm Road . The other is right in front of Cobblestone Apartments .
Police Sgt . Jessica Burns said the idea is to keep an eye on after-school activity , change behavior by their mere presence , and forge a relationship with students and the community that is not based on fear . Burns and officers
Martin Perez and Briana Haus addressed students during the assemblies .
Even before sharing details about the Walk Students Home initiative , Burns explained what it means to be good citizens , such as helping out in the classroom , respecting others , not bullying anyone and treating people the way you want to be treated .
“ Always remember that we are all different ,” Burns said . “ But just because someone is different doesn ’ t mean that you are better and that they deserve to be picked on . That ’ s not right .”
After the second assembly , Burns pointed out how “ a lot of kids don ’ t know how to speak with an officer . There ’ s a sense of fear with the police ,” she said . “ To hand out the snacks gives positive reinforcement that we are here to help . It ’ s all about having a positive relationship .”
Burns said positive relationships help to keep rebellion among students to a minimum . As the children filed out of the assembly , many of the pre-K and kindergarten students lined up just to get hugs from the three officers .
That ’ s where the relationship starts , Burns said .
“ The relationship over time creates a more positive perception among our community and parents because of all the great stories our students will share with their parents about their time with police officers ,” she said . “ That ’ s because the relationship is what deters kids from doing negative actions to doing positive ones .”
26 Arlington School & Family