Staff and Equip. Assessment

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To: Mr. Leon Freeman, Business Administrator

From: Mr. Thomas Hewes-Eddinger, Chief of Security

Date: December 8, 2008

Re: Staff and Equipment Assessment

I have met with a solid representation of staff from all levels throughout the district. My

initial assessment is as follows:

In general, the staff assigned to the security department appears to have a

genuine interest in the safety and security of students and staff. At

several schools in the district the security officers position is a highstress, physically demanding and at times a dangerous job.

Many of the officers throughout the district are under qualified for the

position. Several are outright disgruntled, undermining and constantlyinsubordinate.

Professional appearance and grooming is inconsistent throughout the

staff. Many have taken liberty to create their own version of theiruniform. Standard Operating Procedures currently does not address a

Standard Uniform with proper insignias.

The current job title of School Law Enforcement Officer is

inconsistent with their job description. An argument could be made that

the title is illegal and implies Police powers they do not have.

Progressive discipline for Officers is virtually non-existent and the

current supervision levels within the department are minimal at best.

Officer communications skills, both written and verbal are significantly

poor. This results is the misinterpretation of incidents involving schoolviolence and provides incorrect statistics in the districts Annual School

Violence Report to the State. It can also bring about undo stress to a

verbal incident causing it to rise to the level of a physical altercation.

Board Policy on physical contact and restraint of students by security

staff is inconsistent. Board File Code: 3517 indicates security staff is to

have no physical contact with students. However, in the 2004 Boardapproved District Wide Standard Operating Procedures that includes

procedures for Passive Restraint and Handcuffing of students by Security

personnel.

Camden High School statistically has the most incidents of violence. In

the last two years the Security force at Camden High School has been

reduced 50% from 24 Officers to 12 Officers. On Friday, December 5,

2008 there were 5 separate violent assaults and a fire alarm triggered by

a student. This resulted in injuries to two staff members, three arrests forassault, one arrest for possession of cocaine and one charge for triggering

the fire alarm.

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Dr. LeFra Young

Superintendent

Reuben MillsDeputy Superintendent

Leon FreemanBusiness Administrator

Thomas Hewes-Eddinger

Chief of Security

CAMDEN CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Security Department(Office) 856-966-2101/2102 (Fax) 856-966-2144


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Camden Police had assigned 25 Patrol Officers as School Resource

Officers. In 2008 this number has been reduced to 4 for the entire

district. This leaves district security Officers more vulnerable to incidentsof physical contact with students.

Several years of security department neglect and simply ignoring

requests for the service and replacement of existing Electronic

Surveillance Equipment have placed the entire system of cameras, radiosand scanners in a critical state of disrepair. The three existing scanners

(at Woodrow Wilson High and two at Camden High) are inoperable.

Recent Purchase Orders have been issued but it will take several weeks

to complete the repairs.

In order to re-establish a better trained and more responsive and professional security

department, I make the following recommendations:

The depleted staff needs to be rehired.

A Basic Training Course for all new hires needs to be approved and

implemented with Guidelines from the Attorney Generals TrainingCommission and be taught by Certified Instructors.

Hiring Standards need to improve by requiring qualifications of

continuing education and/or military police experience.

The starting salary needs to increase to attract better qualified applicants.

Mandatory Bi-Annual in-service training for use of force, harassment

and communication skills needs approval. This should begin in January

2009.

Additional in-service courses should be offered on gang identification,

recognizing child abuse and dealing with teenagers.

The existing title School Law Enforcement Officer should be changedto School Security Officer.

Standard Uniforms should be approved that includes dress pants with

stripe, dress shirt with an embroidered shoulder patch and anembroidered chest badge. Both should contain the district insignia. The

badge rockers should read School Security Officer. I am not

recommending at this time that wallet badges with picture credentials beissued.

To better supervision, I have redeployed the Operations Officers back

into an oversight capacity. This should help improve both the reportingand informational system within the Security Departments chain of

command.

I am recommending the creation of a promotional title of Senior School

Security Officer to be placed in those schools where three or moreofficers are assigned. This shall significantly help better staff

supervision at the individual school level.

The department should implement progressive discipline and random

drug and alcohol testing.

I am recommending the Board hire a Security Investigator to assist Law

Enforcement on criminal investigations, conduct internal investigations,

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administer the random Drug Testing Program and to implement both an

intelligence gathering and crime mapping system.

I will be meeting with both Camden Police and the County Prosecutors

Office to improve both onsite police presence as well as extended outside

coverage areas at schools located in neighborhoods with higher streetcrime activity.

Lastly, Electronic Equipment needs to be repaired or replaced to improve

the existing system. Overall a district wide grant should be proposed to

upgrade and expand the districts Electronic Surveillance andCommunications Systems.

Please see attached: Camden City Public Schools Security Department

Organizational ChartDecember 5, 2008- Draft

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Staff and Equip. Assessment