Poll: School district should help fund officers

A majority of respondents in an online Argus-Courier poll said the Petaluma City Schools District should contribute funding to reinstate police officers on school campuses. About 56 percent said the district should contribute, while 47 percent said they should not.

Here are some of the comments:

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“Are we talking about Petaluma or Kent State?”

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“I’m sure the school district can spend the money more wisely to help their students. Kids get harassed enough by the police, they don’t also need it in the schools.”

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“In the past, schools had an officer that covered their salary with increased student attendance. Today, until a student misses 10 percent, there isn’t much concern. How many businesses can operate if employees miss 18 days out of 180? We wonder why businesses say graduating students are not ready for the work force. So petaluma school leaders, get increased attendance to cover costs and get all the other benefits of a school officer.”

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“I suppose so. This society today has gone amok. Kids have no discipline today, and no respect.”

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“No. We already pay taxes for public safety and taxes for schools. I think this a way the city is trying to extort money from the schools, when they can re-deploy police officers off of writing tickets and working with the schools.”

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“Petaluma Police can’t handle the duties they already have. Besides, fat cops who can’t even climb a cyclone fence provide little deterrence.”

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“Private security firms can provide necessary services at less than half the cost of funding public service employees.”

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“The city has the money. Audit the books, it’s already there”

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“The parents of the children that require police attention should pay the fees. Police your own family so the public doesn’t have to.”

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“The school district receives money for education. The police department receives money for public safety.”

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“The school district should use money for education, not staffing the PPD.”

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“We talk a lot about bettering police/community relationships to prevent versus react to problems. Having the police on campus improves safety and builds strong relationships with kids that need it most. Problem is that neither the City Council nor the school district are willing to pay for it.”

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