Police officers defend their role in London's schools, despite call for them to be removed

Black Lives Matter London has called for the removal of police officers from the city's schools because they say the officers can trigger feelings of anxiety in Black students.

The request is among a long list of demands by the group whose aim is to address anti-Black racism and systemic oppression. CBC London Morning reached out to two London officers who work in the schools to get their reaction Tuesday.

"Well, I'm kind of surprised," said Constable Becky Elliott, who works as a school safety officer in London's elementary schools.

"I feel that in the school … we do make a huge difference. Is there room for change? Yes, maybe. But I think right now when we go to schools … we are there for the kids."

Elliot says the goal is to help the students get to know police officers as people.

Constable Ziyad Zabian, a secondary school resource officer, had a similar reaction.

"We're there to help make it a most enjoyable and educational experience for them. And … we're going to do whatever we can to help those students succeed," he said.

Both officers attend the schools in conventional police uniforms with a gun. But Elliot says the first thing she does when she introduces herself to students is to show them pictures of her out of uniform with her family.

"I tell them I am just like you. I grew up like you. I was sitting in the same seat as you and I'm just a person doing a job. So I want them to know me as a human being, first."

Elliot says she has to remain in uniform because she might have to respond to an occurrence outside of the school while still on duty.

For some elementary students, it's the first time they've ever spoken a police officer.

"And we want that to be a good experience," she said. "Or maybe they've had a bad experience, and my job is to go in there and I'm going to change that. I want to them to be able to trust the police officer and see me as someone that they can trust and they can go to at any time."

Zabian says at the high school level, resource officers talk to students about drug and alcohol awareness, cyber safety, diversity, bullying and human trafficking.

He said they also take questions that students will write privately and leave on the teacher's desk. They'll also meet with the principal to discuss school issues and talk about students who may be struggling.

"We sit down and talk about how we can help the student succeed. What can do to make this atmosphere better and safer for them," he said.

Zabian said he also works as a diversity officer and has dealt with students who are new to Canada and have a negative view of police officers.

"And I take that as a challenge to be positive and show them how policing is done right in our country, because I think we do it amazingly in Canada," he said. "I look at that as an opportunity to build a bridge and bond with that student … And I've found it to be successful … just listening to the students."

Elliot says the call to remove officers from the schools contrasts with her experience of being greeted enthusiastically by students.

"It's almost like the Pied Piper thing. We walk into those schools … (and) those kids flock to us. … I have a couple of secret handshakes with kids or fist bumps."

And, she said, they recognize her in the community.

"I'm Officer Becky. I see them out and about, and they will come up to me. And I've always told them, you are more than welcome to come up and meet my kids, meet my family…And I've found that's happened more often than not."