Bob Hennelly
WNYC's Bob Hennelly is an award-winning investigative journalist. While at WNYC he has reported on a wide gamut of major public policy questions ranging from immigration and homeland security to power outages and utility mergers.
Student Safet Act Gains Momentum In City Council
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
New York, NY –
A bill aimed at tightening oversight of the City's school safety agents is gaining momentum in the City Council. It would increase documentation of police encounters with students in city schools. WNYC's Bob Hennelly reports.
REPORTER: There was not an empty seat at a public hearing, with mostly students, parents and civil liberty activists. Speaker Christine Quinn says she wants the Department of Education and NYPD to disclose more data on student discipline, school crime, and complaints against school safety agents.
QUINN: We have heard it time and again. If you don't monitor it, if you don't measure it you can't manage it.
REPORTER: Officials say since the NYPD got involved in school safety in the late 1980s there's been a dramatic drop in school crime. Some students, parents and educators say the police presence has become too heavy handed. School safety agent union President Gregory Floyd says his members are caught in the middle.
FLOYD: If they don't listen to the principal they're transferred. If they don't listen to the police department they're disciplined.
REPORTER: So far, the Student Safety Act has the support of three fifths of the City Council. For WNYC I'm Bob Hennelly.
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