Uniformed officers return to York Region schools as new protocol announced [Video]

Students across York Region will once again see uniformed officers at school, however police and board officials say they will only be stopping by for the occasional safety presentation.

Both the Catholic and public school boards in York Region suspended two programs that placed officers in schools on a more fulltime basis in 2021 amid concerns from community advocates. The decision followed a similar move by the Toronto District School Board in 2017.

On Thursday morning, York Regional Police (YRP) unveiled a newly developed School-Police Protocol, which they said aims to “provide support and meaningful engagement for students at both the elementary and secondary levels” and “follows a thoughtful, collaborative process.”

Under the new protocol, youth engagement officers will be speaking with students at each school on three occasions to discuss road and traffic safety as well as pathways to a career in policing.

Parents, meanwhile, will be advised of …