November 30, 2022
Vancouver school trustees voted to reinstate the student liaison officer program after it was cancelled in 2021. The program will return to schools in September of 2023, complementing our Safety is a Right initiative.
“We’re encouraged to see the reinstatement of the SLO program. It has proven to help students for 50 years and will continue in its nature of preventative and proactive support for young people in Vancouver. We are fully supportive of the new transition.” says Ralph Kaisers, President of the Vancouver Police Union (VPU).
The student liaison officer program has had a police presence in schools since 1972. Some of the members of the Vancouver Police Department went beyond the program to integrate themselves into student activities like volunteering as coaches on sports teams, further building bridges to connect with students and parents.
The goal of the program was focused on prevention and being proactive against criminal activity and aimed to be an additional resource for students and teachers. VPU members have a commitment to safety in our communities, so we are supportive of the reimagined model in the new year that can respond to community needs.
Safety is a right for all students. The SLO program is just one of the ways we can collectively achieve a safe city.
