ATMI Program

by Amy Moon Edin

As students pass through the halls between gym and history class, they might stop to chat with their friends and teachers. But this school year, students find themselves also mingling with cops in the hallways.

Last semester 12 officers were placed in the six high schools of the Anchorage School District as a part of the Cops in Schools program.

Each high school is assigned two officers whose top priority is to maintain the safety of students and staff as well as reduce fights and truancies. This program was implemented to provide a safe environment as well as reduce discipline problems. Sergeant Denise Rollins of the Anchorage Police Department said the School Resource Officers are not placed in the schools to be intimidating or cause fear.

"The number one priority for the School Resource Officers is the safety of the students and staff in the schools," Rollins said. "How we provide that is by having an extra set of eyes and ears out in the school, a police presence that will provide some sense of security to those people who feel like they're not safe in the school."

The program started as a four-year trial with finances from the Justice Department's Community Oriented Policing Services as well as local funding.

Rollins said the federal government provides $1.6 million and the municipality of Anchorage supplies $2.1 million over a three-year period.

The Municipality has more money invested into the program due to grant requirements stating the city must fund the fourth year by itself.

Rollins said School Resource Officers are not placed in the school because they are getting raises.

"They're here primarily because they want to be," she said. "They won out in the selection process, but they had to want to be here. No one was forced to. This isn't an additional duty for anybody. This is what they do, and they do it because they want to."

And Rollins said their presence is making a difference.

"I'm sure, I don't think it, I know that we have had a positive impact on the school," she said.

Rollins also said the number of fights has decreased dramatically within the district.


	by Amy Moon Edin Listen to the story! As students pass through the halls between gym and history class, they might stop to chat with their friends and teachers. But this school year, students find themselves also mingling with cops in the hallways. Last semester 12 officers were placed in the six high schools of the Anchorage School District as a part of the Cops in Schools program. Each high school is assigned two officers whose top priority is to maintain the safety of students and staff as well as reduce fights and truancies. This program was implemented to provide a safe environment as well as reduce discipline problems. Sergeant Denise Rollins of the Anchorage Police Department said the School Resource Officers are not placed in the schools to be intimidating or cause fear. "The number one priority for the School Resource Officers is the safety of the students and staff in the schools," Rollins said. "How we provide that is by having an extra set of eyes and ears out in the school, a police presence that will provide some sense of security to those people who feel like they're not safe in the school." The program started as a four-year trial with finances from the Justice Department's Community Oriented Policing Services as well as local funding. Rollins said the federal government provides $1.6 million and the municipality of Anchorage supplies $2.1 million over a three-year period. The Municipality has more money invested into the program due to grant requirements stating the city must fund the fourth year by itself. Rollins said School Resource Officers are not placed in the school because they are getting raises. "They're here primarily because they want to be," she said. "They won out in the selection process, but they had to want to be here. No one was forced to. This isn't an additional duty for anybody. This is what they do, and they do it because they want to." And Rollins said their presence is making a difference. "I'm sure, I don't think it, I know that we have had a positive impact on the school," she said. Rollins also said the number of fights has decreased dramatically within the district. Cops in school

Cops in school