Council Seeks Role in School Security Plan

In the midst of an academic year that has seen one student gunned down in school hallway and another killed outside a school, lawmakers are considering changes that would give the city's police chief the added responsibility of overseeing school security.

"There would be a seamless approach to crime fighting efforts in the neighborhoods in and around these schools where the problems have taken place," said District of Columbia Councilman Kevin P. Chavous, D-Ward 7.

Along with the killings inside Ballou High School and outside Anacosia High School, two other male students are facing charges of allegedly trying to bring a gun into Wilson High School.

Chavous introduced draft legislation on Tuesday that would transfer control of school security from the superintendent of D.C. Public Schools to Chief Charles H. Ramsey of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.

"The superintendent should be focused on the academic needs of our kids, and not security," said Chavous, who chairs the council committee overseeing schools and libraries. The plan would place the $15 million DCPS security budget under Ramsey's control.

Since the Feb. 2 fatal shooting at Ballou, Ramsey has been putting together a plan to increase security at the Southeast Washington school. That plan is now being reviewed by D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams and senior members of his staff.

"This affects the city as a whole," said Officer Ken Bryson, an MPD spokesman. As of Tuesday afternoon, Chavous and other council members said they had not been briefed on the plan.

Sources in the mayor's office have said the goal is to tailor the Ballou plan for use in other city schools. Ramsey has said that may seek council approval to enable off-duty officers to work second jobs augmenting the contract security now used at city high schools.

"It's scary," said D.C. Councilman Jack Evans, D-Ward 2, adding that using police officers as hall monitors in schools would be like using national guard troops to fight city crime.

"Will that officer have a gun, can they go into lockers?" asked Evans. He said that while parents want their children to attend safe schools, many have concerns about how their children might be treated by police used to enforcing the law on city streets.

"This seems like a quick fix in a political year," said Evans. Five of the 13 seats on the D.C. Council are up for election in November, including those currently held by Chavous, Evans, and Sandra Allen, of Ward 8.