As summer vacations begin to wind down and parents start preparations for their children to return to school, let us not forget that as a community we must ALL do our part to keep kids safe.
Motor vehicle traffic crashes are one of the leading causes of death for children 2-14 years old. Most of these fatalities could be prevented with the proper precautions: Make sure children are wearing their seatbelts. Teach your children to cross at the appropriate crosswalks and not run through traffic. Do not double park or block crosswalks, as it reduces the visibility for other children and vehicles. Adhere to speed limits, stay alert and take extra care to look out for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in all residential areas. Remember to put the phone down when driving!
The Miramar Police Department wants to assure you that we are committed to the safety and future of the youth in our community. We were the first agency in Broward County to provide full-time school resource officers in every public school (two officers at the high schools). Today, our charter schools benefit from our School Resource Officer program as well.
Although school safety is a top priority, it is important to note school resource officers provide more than security. Teaching students life lessons, such as goal setting, character traits, and providing information on bullying and drug abuse prevention is a role many officers have in our schools. Connecting with students, by bridging the gap between law enforcement and the next generation is important.
We understand community engagement is key to building trust and meaningful relationships. Having our officers interact with students and staff on a daily basis has been beneficial to building that trust. Officers, many of whom are a familiar face to students, often become a second support system outside the home – mentoring and counseling students and assisting them in times of need or crises.
School resource officers are not only located at the schools for students, but also for faculty, staff, and parents. Our officers handle issues and crimes that may occur within the school, but they are also a resource for families – providing information on services and outreach programs available to residents in need. From the first day of kindergarten to high school graduation and all the other
milestones in between, our school resource officers are here for your children and our entire community.
As the first day of school approaches, we would be remiss if we did not remind parents to be prepared and arrive to school early to avoid high traffic times. Many parents on the first day of school want to capture these precious moments by picture or video, but please be considerate to those around you. We suggest snapping these photos before leaving your home and having all supplies ready for drop-off. Doing this will help alleviate traffic congestion.
We also recommend that parents and guardians take a few minutes to speak with children about the consequences of texting, or posting on social media, threats of violence. All threats are taken seriously, investigated thoroughly, and will not be tolerated.
In closing, please remember that communication is key to working together effectively. If you see something, say something. Please report any suspicious activity immediately.
We wish each child a safe and successful school year!
