Police, school boards launch Start Smart – Stay Safe program

CALGARY – Fifteen Calgary schools launched a new initiative on Tuesday.

Teachers, principals and parents gathered at Mount Royal University for the kick off of the “Start Smart – Stay Safe” program.

The program is a collaborative effort between the police, both school boards and the MRU Centre for Child Wellbeing. The plan is to have uniformed police officers in the schools, who will focus on prevention and education instead of law enforcement when it comes to community policing.

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The aim is to provide positive role models.

“With the police service spending positive time and powering kids in the classroom, we’re hoping that one more adult that’s taking time with them to empower them, make them feel special, make them feel like they’re worth spending time with,” says Sgt. Susan Westenberger.

4,000 students from kindergarten to grade six will take part in the pilot program.

The program will be evaluated and then developed for grades seven through twelve in the future.