PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – Pembroke Pines commissioners voted Monday night to finalize a contract to keep school resource officers on campuses throughout the city.
A handful of school resource officers were front and center at Monday night’s commission meeting, as parents, teachers and even some students pushed to keep the officers in all Pembroke Pines schools.
“Having a trained law enforcement officer on-site provides a sense of security that cannot be understated,” said one student.
A teacher added, “They are mentors, educators, and protectors.”
The commission faced the decision of whether to keep 16 SROs staffed at a financial loss to the city — $2.1 million over three years.
Broward County Public Schools covers the remaining costs for the SROs, including time and equipment.
“The money is important—not as important as taking care of the kids, obviously, but I think the money is important,” Mayor Angelo Castillo said.
“It’s basically an investment and I’m willing to make that investment for our students,” Commissioner Maria Rodriguez said.
The week prior, the commissioners rejected a BCPS proposal to remove 12 SROs from elementary and middle schools in Pembroke Pines and, in some cases, replace them with Broward School Board officers and armed guardians — civilians trained by Broward cops.
“I’m not going to disparage guardians — I understand they’re highly trained, but they don’t have sworn law enforcement credentials,” Commissioner Michael A. Hernandez said. “They don’t have a badge, for lack of a better expression, and we are accustomed to badges in our schools.”
In the end, a proposal that had originally been deferred back in May was unanimously approved Monday night, ensuring that all 16 SROs remain in place.
“This sends a clear message that we care deeply about our community and will stop at nothing to protect them,” Commissioner Jay Schwartz said.