Thanks to Needham’s Town
Manager Kate Fitzpatrick and Police Chief John Schlittler who recently
announced the assignment of an additional School Resource Officer (SRO) for
Needham’s schools. Officer Ryan O’Leary, a Needham High School and recent Boston
College graduate, joins police veteran Vin Springer who has served this community for over 30 years as a crisis negotiator, field training officer, and for the last 13 years as the school liaison. The presence of School Resource Officers on
our school campuses complements the strong relationship that exists between
Needham’s public safety and school officials, and we are excited to have both
men on board.
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| Ryan O'Leary (left) and Vin Springer (right) |
SROs Springer and O’Leary
will work closely with the schools, staff, students, and families to assist us
as we focus on student safety, security, and wellbeing. For example, the SROs have been trained on ALICE,
our new school safety protocol, and they will collaborate with principals
around student truancy, bullying, or other matters that may require support and
intervention beyond the purview of a building administrator. Already both
officers have been in each of the schools and have been a positive presence at
lunch time in our cafeterias where they have met and interacted with
students. Principals at the elementary
and middle school level are introducing the officers to children so that they
can build connections and relationships.
Over the last year there
has been a lot of conversation about the role of police officers in our
communities and their level of commitment and understanding, especially in
communities of color. Needham may not
have all the challenges of a Boston or Baltimore, but Needham does strive to be
a welcoming, inclusive, respectful, and just community. The willingness of Town
Manager Fitzpatrick and Chief Schlittler to designate two exceptional men to
the position of School Resource Officer when staffing is already tight, is a testament
to this community’s belief in the fair, decent, and dignified treatment of all
people, regardless of age, race, gender, or ethnicity.
Officer Vinny Springer
and Officer Ryan O’Leary, thank you for your partnership with the schools,
commitment to young people, and your service to this community!
Officers Ryan O’Leary and Vin Springer seem like great choices as SRO's.
ReplyDeleteThat said - some residents are unsure of Police Chief John Schlittler's position as a role model for preventing bullying. When he was younger, he was a bully and one of the worst people I have ever met. Other Needham residents sadly remember his track record of bullying.
We hope that as he matured he not only made a 180-degree change in how he treats others but eventually apologized to the people he verbally and physically terrorized. We can forgive him (though none of us have heard him take responsibility for his behavior yet), but it is challenging to forget.
His narrative could be powerful. Ex: "I was a bully, I deeply regret it and I have an opportunity now to make up for what I did years ago. I understand the dynamic of bullying and want to stop it from taking root again in Needham." That honesty and growth as a person could lead him to being a great champion for children against bullying in its many forms.