SCV Sheriffs and City Launch School Watch Program
March 07, 2008 (SANTA CLARITA) – The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station joined in partnership with the City of Santa Clarita, the County of Los Angeles and the Sulphur Springs School District to launch the "School Watch Program." The program is modeled after the “Neighborhood Watch Program,” and encourages community members who live near local elementary schools to stay aware of activity that happens on and around the campuses. Those who notice any suspicious activity such as vandalism, graffiti, burglary or unsupervised children on a campus after school hours will have a direct partnership with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station and will be encouraged to contact the station at the first sign of such activity or trouble.
The goal of the program is to create a buffer zone of protection on and around our elementary schools in the Santa Clarita Valley, protect our children, prevent unlawful use and abuse of our school campuses and create the safest possible learning environment.
By involving school officials, teachers' aids, Parent Teacher Association (PTA) members, and other selected individuals who live in direct proximity to the school, and creating a formal "School Watch" group, the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station and City of Santa Clarita hope to take school safety to the next level.
Captain Anthony La Berge, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station; Mayor Bob Kellar, City of Santa Clarita; Rosalind Wayman, Field Deputy for Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, Los Angeles County 5th District; Dr. Robert Nolet, Superintendent, Sulphur Springs School District; Laura Banda, Principal, Leona Cox Community School and members of the community joined in partnership on the sidewalk right in front of Leona Cox Community School at 18643 Oakmore Street at 9:45 a.m. on Friday, March 7, 2008, to announce details of the program, answer questions, and to unveil the first of their kind "School Watch" signs in the Santa Clarita Valley which will be installed around the school.
“The purpose of this program is to empower the community to combat crime that occurs on school campuses,” said Mayor Bob Kellar. “It also creates a working partnership between schools, the community and law enforcement to ensure that our children are safe and school property is protected."
Residents, business leaders, community representatives, school officials and media professionals attended the event.
"Our youth are our future," commented Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Captain Anthony La Berge. "Our school campuses and surrounding areas must be safe zones free of gangs, drugs, violence, crime and misuse!" Our children deserve a true safe learning environment without outside influences or interruptions," he added.
For additional information regarding the program contact Deputy Pat Rissler at (661) 799-5159.
You can read more about the "School Watch Program" by clicking on the following link: Santa Clarita School Watch.
To see more photographs of the event click on the following link: Santa Clarita School Watch photos.
