Memphis schools add police presence
Feb 20, 2008 10:25 AM
Sixty-seven Memphis police officers will start their new assignments today in schools. The school superintendent also plans to ask the board for $1.2 million to hire 23 additional security officers. If the board approves, the new officers would go through training this fall. The district currently has 37 of its own security officers and 42 Memphis Police Department officers in its middle and high schools. The district also will use 500,000 in grant money to buy 15 X-ray machines to assist in metal detector searches.
To read The Memphis Commercial Appeal article, click here.
EARLIER: Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton says he will commit city money to place more police officers and metal detectors in every public middle and high school. There are 42 Memphis Police Department officers stationed among 56 Memphis middle and high schools (one at all 28 high schools and one for every two of 28 middle schools). Under this plan, 67 more officers would be sent into 25 high schools and seven middle schools. Concern about violence in Memphis public schools heightened this week after a Mitchell High School sophomore shot and wounded a classmate during a physical-education class.
Click here to read The Memphis Commercial Appeal article.
Memphis City Schools administrators and board members are pleading for the community's help in curbing school violence after the second school shooting in eight days. Stacey Kiser, 19, a senior at Mitchell High School, was in critical condition after being shot Monday during a gym class.
Click here to read The Memphis Commercial Appeal article.
A student at Mitchell High School in Memphis, Tenn., was seriously wounded Monday morning after another student shot him during physical education class in the cafeteria.Police say a suspect, a 17-year-old 10th grader, is in custody. The victim is a 19-year-old 12th grader. Officials say the incident may be connected to something that happened in the community over the weekend.
To read The Memphis Commercial Appeal article, click here.
