Nirenberg Calls on City Council to Immediately Bring Back School Resource Officers
Nirenberg Calls on City Council to Immediately Bring Back School Resource Officers
Urges Council to Act at Tonight’s Legislative Meeting To Restore Funding
ALEXANDRIA, VA – Darryl Nirenberg, Republican Candidate for Alexandria City Council, today called on the City Council to act at tonight’s legislative meeting to bring back School Resource Officers and restore full funding for the positions Council defunded earlier this year.
Nirenberg’s call for Council to act this evening comes after WJLA revealed videos of middle and high school students “punching, kicking and stomping classmates and adults.” According to WJLA, the videos were “captured by students with cell phone cameras and posted on social media.”
Earlier this week, Nirenberg released a new TV ad calling for SROs to be returned to local schools.
“Last Thursday, ACPS Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr. pleaded ‘with our City Council . . . that we reinstate our school resource officers immediately.’ City Council needs to hear his plea, and act tonight — because our students’ safety must come first.
“The Council was wrong to force the Resource Officers out over the objections of the School Board and without giving parents any say whatsoever. This is not a partisan issue. This is about the safety of our children. If there are concerns about the interactions with students, let’s address them, not throw the baby out with the bath water.
“Council should admit it was a mistake, and reverse course. However, if the City Council fails to do the right thing and restore the SRO program, I pledge that if I am elected to the Council, on my first day in office, I will move to bring back our School Resource Officers and ensure our kids are safe at school.
“Ironically, among the first items on the agenda this evening is a ‘Proclamation Recognizing October as National Bullying Awareness Month.’ Council should pass that proclamation and add in a resolution bringing back the School Resource Officers, and restoring their funding.”
Nirenberg is a 22 year Alexandria resident. A practicing attorney and a graduate of George Washington University night law school, Nirenberg is a Founding Board Member of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Positive Coaching Alliance, a grassroots organization devoted to creating a positive culture for youth sports, and making organized sports more accessible to youths in underserved communities.
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