U.S. Senator Chris Murphy has introduced legislation seeking to defund federal support for School Resource Officers, a special position that today works in collaboration with school administrators to provide a safe environment for students and staff.
For the past eight years Senator Murphy has gone across Connecticut making promises of support for School Resource Officers and other trained professionals under the jurisdiction of local police departments. Now Senator Murphy claims that eliminating School Resource Officers is a step towards eliminating “systemic racism.” What has changed in the world of providing safety to students and staff? Nothing. This is an issue about the safety of our children, not racism, and Senator Murphy’s bill will only weaken protection for our children.
State funding pays for a much larger portion of our education bill than the federal government, thus we must ensure that our State Senators and Representatives will stand up to Senator Murphy’s politics and commit to NOT defund School Resource Officers.
Dan DeBarba, the Republican candidate for State Representative for Woodbridge, understands the value of School Resource Officers and rightly opposes Senator Murphy’s proposal. DeBarba posted on Facebook, “These officers are there for one reason: To Protect Children.” He continued, “I believe that the residents of Woodbridge, Orange and Derby have a much better sense than Chris Murphy does of what is good for our children.”
It is important for Mary Welander, the Democrat candidate for State Representative, to take a position on this issue. As an Orange Board of Education member, this issue has already fallen in her lap, yet she has not openly opposed these proposed cuts. How can this be? Will she stand up to Chris Murphy as Dan DeBarba has? Will she put party affiliation aside and make the same commitment Dan DeBarba has already made to protect state funding for SROs in the face of possible federal cutbacks? The voters, and especially the families of our school students, need to know.
Chuck Pyne
Chairman
Woodbridge Republican Town Committee
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