Where’s the evidence liaison officers work?

Re: “Police chief and school board remain at loggerheads on officers in schools,” comment, March 5.

Les Leyne continues to advocate on behalf of Victoria police in their quest to reinstate police liaison officers in schools. He is of the opinion that dropping the program was “ill-considered.” On what information did Leyne rely to have formed this opinion?

According to their website, the Greater Victoria School Board serves 18,000 students in 27 elementary, 10 middle and seven secondary schools located in the municipalities of Victoria, Esquimalt, Saanich, Oak Bay and View Royal. The province’s Human Rights commissioner, the school board and the staff in those schools requested cancellation of the liaison program because there is “strong evidence” that it causes “more harm than good.” Does Leyne have evidence to support his opposing point of view? Are the police in Saanich, Oak Bay and View Royal also prepared to provide personnel should “hard evidence” be presented to have the program reinstated?

To be clear, I am a white woman, nearing 80. I support the minority who are and have been traumatized, stressed or discomfited by a police presence. Having heard stories from older siblings about black-uniformed, black-booted, gun-toting invading soldiers occupying Holland in the Second World War, I understand the stress. Sidestepping minority concerns has led us into troubled waters in the past. Let’s take a deep breath and allow the research to speak for itself.

C.J. Van Elslande Victoria