Ottawa high schools' police presence shows results

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By Ashley Burke, CBC News

An Ottawa police officer who works at a Vanier high school with a rough reputation says he can see a difference in the character of the school since he arrived three years ago.

Const. Cory McAree is the school resource officer Ottawa Technical Secondary School, one of three high-priority schools he works at.

Ottawa Police and the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board started the pilot project four years ago to help six schools that had received the most visits from police.

While McAree and another officer work with six schools between them, regular school resource officers work with between 14 and 24 schools.

Ottawa Technical Secondary School had the most calls to police in 2013, CBC Newslearned through an access to information request.

The school received 188 police visits for a range of complaints, includingassault, sex assault, sexual exploitation, assault with a weapon and possession of a dangerous weapon.

Ottawa police Sgt. Heather Lachine cautioned thatthe numbers can be misleading.

"What the public needs to understand is that just because there are a number of calls for service at the school, it doesn't mean that there have been that many arrests or that they're negative calls for service, said Ottawa police Sgt. Heather Lachine.

Lachine addedthat it could mean the officer is spending additional time building relationships with students.

Fewer drug calls since police stationed at school

Police say the numbers are down at Ottawa Techsince the project began.

When McAreestarted there three years ago, he said the school was dealing with a drug problem.

Many of the students come from rough neighbourhoods with little support at home, while othershave intense behavioural needs.Students were found with cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and marijuana.

Everyday someone that was coming in, that I would be speaking to, was under the influence or using... that was pretty concerning, he said.

But he said building relationships with students has helped many clean up their acts.

In 2013, there was only one call to police for possession of marijuana.

"The drug issue has really gone down. That we've seen. If it's being abused, it's not being abused during school hours, McAree said.

Building trust with students

McAreerecallscrossing paths with a distraughtstudentwhilewalking the halls earlier this month. The student was worked up, yelling at two teachers and saying he had beenpunched in the face. McAree helped calm him down.

McAree said he makes sure he knows every students name at his schools. Hesaid his goal is to have students trust not just him, but all police.

He helps coach a hockey team and hastaken students with behavioural issues on a fishing trip.

We can help in many ways. We dont always have to arrest and charge, and put (them) through the courts," McAree said.

'I'd hate to see him disappointed in me': student

Grade 12 student Liam Rado is just one example.

Rados now staying away from cocaine and heroin, and when he has a weak moment he thinks of McAree.

Friendship. I don't want to lose friendship. No one likes to be alone. Its as simple as that... I'd hate to see him disappointed in me. It would be terrible, said Rado.

The program is funded year-to-year, soMcAree can't say how much longer it will continue.But he hopes the lessons he's teaching students will be passed on.

Hes already seeing students like Liam Rado change the culture of the school by encouraging other students not to go down the wrong path.

He's lived through the pain. He doesn't want others to do that. So it's great. He's a success story, said McAree.

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