Los Angeles: As children of all ages return to school, the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Unified School District once again collaborate on a School Safety Plan. As always, our priority is "Keeping Kids Safe," including the importance of ensuring the safety of children as they attend schools throughout the Los Angeles Unified School District.

The LAPD and the LAUSD have implemented the following programs to promote school safety:

Rapid Response Training

The LAPD developed "Rapid Response Training" for LAPD and LAUSD personnel. This training focuses on a law enforcement response to a critical school incident with an active threat. It trains personnel from both agencies to respond rapidly in a coordinated effort.

C.A.R.E. Alert: Child Abduction Regional Emergency (Local Alert program)

CARE is a collaborative effort between the Department, the media and the community. The program’s goal is to decrease the tragedies associated with child abductions/kidnappings regionally and to increase the likelihood of the apprehension of suspects by quickly providing as much information as possible to the community.

A.M.B.E.R. Alert: America’s Missing Broadcast Emergency Response (Nationwide Alert Program)

The AMBER Plan is a voluntary partnership between law-enforcement agencies and broadcasters to activate an urgent bulletin nationwide in the most serious child-abduction cases. Broadcasters use the Emergency Alert System to air a description of the missing child and suspected abductor.

Safe House Program

The LAPD, in conjunction with the LAUSD, implemented this program in 1996. The intent of the program is to identify homes and businesses along routes used by school children on their way to and from school that could be used as temporary sanctuaries in the event of trouble. Currently, there are over 1275 "Safe House" locations throughout the City. Additionally, every Area station, City and County Fire Station, and sixty-two City Parks has been designated as a "Safe House" location. Finally, seven Council Districts have joined this effort by designating their field offices as "Safe House" locations. It is anticipated that the remaining council members will do the same.

School Cars

The LAPD deploys School Cars in each geographic Area. These are uniformed officers whose primary duty is to investigate juvenile-related matters on and around school campuses. Additionally, they provide a highly visible law enforcement presence around the schools and work closely with LAUSD Police and school personnel.

Juvenile Cars

The LAPD deploys a Juvenile Car (J-Car) in each geographic Area. The purpose of the J-Car is to provide effective front-end intervention measures for juveniles who are at-risk of becoming involved in pre-delinquent/delinquent behavior. Juvenile Car officers perform daily juvenile-related assignments such as meeting with parents who seek assistance for their child on matters such as incorrigibility, truancy, etc.

Anti-Truancy Ordinance

In 1995, Section 45.04 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code was enacted by the Los Angeles City Council. This section prohibits anyone under the age of 18, who is subject to compulsory education, to be truant from school without a legitimate excuse. The LAPD developed a procedure to enforce this section by authorizing officers to issue a Traffic Notice to Appear in lieu of making an arrest. This procedure has helped reduce daytime crimes associated with truancy and increased school attendance.

Los Angeles Police Department/Los Angeles Unified School Mental Health Referral Program

In 1995, the LAPD and LAUSD combined resources to provide timely psychological intervention for those children who have become either a victim or witness of a traumatic event. Incidents such as violent crime, natural disasters, deaths, etc., can have a dramatic impact on a child. Without prompt attention, the child may suffer further psychological damage. This program authorizes LAPD personnel, who come in contact with a child who is either a victim or witness to a traumatic event, to advise the child’ s parents of the mental health counseling available through the LAUSD’s Mental Health Services Unit.

Juvenile Narcotics School Buy Program

For many years, the LAPD, in cooperation with the LAUSD, has actively addressed the problems of drug/narcotics use on school campuses by deploying undercover officers, posing as students, on various high school campuses throughout the City. These officers conduct drug/narcotics transactions, which ultimately lead to the arrest of the offenders.

Sober Graduation Program

The Sober Graduation Program is the LAPD’s program to support the schools in their graduation activities to educate students regarding the effects and consequences of drinking and driving. Furthermore, it is the LAPD’s goal to reduce the number of students injured and killed in alcohol-related traffic accidents. The Sober Graduation Program enables officers to meet with students and school officials to discuss mutual concerns relating to sober graduation events. From these meetings, students will develop attitudes that can prevent alcohol-related traffic accidents over a lifetime.

The above-described programs clearly delineate the total commitment of the LAPD and the LAUSD to enhancing school safety. Every student, parent, teacher, and school administrator should know that both agencies, along with the others represented here today, are dedicated to providing a safe learning environment for every student, not only as they return to school, but throughout the entire school year.

Every student, parent, teacher, and school administrator should know that both agencies, along with the others represented here today, are dedicated to providing a safe learning environment for every student, not only as they return to school, but throughout the entire school year.

For more information contact Captain Sharyn Buck, Commanding Officer, Juvenile Division, at 213-485-3586. This news release was prepared by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Media Relations Section, at 213-485-3586.