PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – Parents in Pembroke Pines expressed their fear that there will not be a police officer at their kids’ schools.
In a signed letter, Pembroke Pines Mayor Angelo Castillo claimed there were “inequities in compensation” for school resource officers and demanded a pay increase.
Castillo wrote that if that doesn’t happen Broward County Public Schools would have guardians assigned instead of the trained police officers.
“It feels good to pull up to the school when you’re dropping off your child and seeing a police car,” said Veronica Owen, a concerned mother.
Parents in Pembroke Pines took to social media to voice their fears.
The armed guardian program was put in place in the wake of the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
The men and women are civilians trained by the Broward Sheriff’s Office who were placed in 47 Broward schools, excluding the charter schools.
In an email, the school district hasn’t said yet what the plan will be for this coming school year, which is just a week away from starting.
“As a parent, I don’t know the difference,” Owen said. “All I know is that I like seeing a uniformed officer. I just hope they can figure out the issue in time for the brand new school year.”