Code No. 509

Student Personnel

 Law Enforcement Officers

It shall be the policy of the district that a reasonable cooperative effort be maintained between the district and law enforcement agencies.

Building principals and the superintendent or his/her designee shall have the authority and duty to conduct investigations and to question students pertaining to infractions of school rules whether or not the alleged conduct is a violation of the criminal law.  The building principal or the superintendent shall determine when the necessity exists for law enforcement officials to be contacted to conduct an investigation of alleged criminal behavior which may jeopardize the safety of school personnel or students, which may endanger school property or which may interfere with the operation of the schools.  If the principal or superintendent determines that law enforcement officials should be contacted, reasonable attempts shall be made to contact the parent or guardian of any student who may be questioned.  In the absence of the student’s parent during any questioning by law enforcement officials, the principal or superintendent or his/her designee shall be present.  Although cooperation with law enforcement officials is desired, it should not normally be necessary for law enforcement officials to conduct any investigation on school premises during school hours pertaining to criminal activities unrelated to the operation of the school.  Only when a demonstrated necessity exists, shall law enforcement officials be allowed to conduct such an investigation, and then, the building principal, the superintendent, or his/her designee shall be present.  If it is necessary that the law enforcement official question a student, reasonable attempts shall be made to contact the parent(s).

Students should not be released to law enforcement officials unless the student has been placed under arrest or unless the student’s parent or guardian agrees to the release.  When an emergency exists, the principal or superintendent may summon law enforcement officials to the school to take the student into custody.  When students are removed from school by law enforcement officials, every reasonable effort should be made to contact the student’s parent or guardian.

Law enforcement officers may be requested to assist in controlling disturbances of the school environment which the principal, superintendent or his/her designee has found to be unmanageable and which has the potential of causing harm to students, other persons, or to property.

The school district has the right to appoint a truant officer.

Approved:   September 11, 1989       

Reviewed:  May 18, 2009       

Revised: