After a spate of recent violence, the NYPD is increasing the number of officers assigned to special school details citywide, and calling on School Safety Division officers to step up reporting “when a school incident has the potential for retaliation.”
Maddrey’s memo outlines a series of steps to bolster communications and contacts with school officials, and to ensure that “directed patrols” at schools are completed. Chief of Patrol John M. Chell and Chief of Transit Michael Kemper will oversee the patrols, according to the memo, with Kemper also ensuring that “Transit District School Safety Teams are being strategically deployed after conferral with their precinct counterpart.
Maddrey also orders precinct commanding officers to meet weekly with school principals, of public as well as private and charter schools; to discuss “issues of note”; and to initiate an “All-Out” that is, redirecting cops on administrative duties into the field to cover dismissals at problematic schools.
In a statement Friday, Department of Education spokesperson Jenna Lyle emphasized the NYPD’s role in keeping students safe outside of schools, and highlighted Project Pivot,to address school violence, for its part in creating a safe environment for students. “Safety is the responsibility [of] the entire community and through Project Pivot we are partnering deeply with the community to engage our students and ensure they are engaged in safe, positive activities in and outside of school,” Lyle said. “We appreciate the NYPD for taking this step to ensure our young people are safe when traveling to and from schools, and in their communities.”