Ottawa police assign youth officers to city’s school districts [Video]

The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) is returning to city schools with a revised approach, assigning officers to support educators without being stationed inside buildings.

Four officers from the Community Youth Unit are now assigned to the city’s four school districts — east, south, central, and west — ensuring each district has a dedicated officer for school engagement.

“What that means, really, is improving the efficiency of how we provide a service to our schools, whether it be proactive work, which means presentations, lockdown practices,” OPS Staff Sergeant Fernando Vieira said.

Teachers will be able to call their assigned youth officer directly, allowing for faster consultation.

“If we feel like it’s warranted, we will go to the schools,” Vieira said.

The move marks a shift from four years ago, when the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board voted to stop participating in a programme that placed officers inside schools.

Concerns over strained relationships between police, students, and families led OPS to close the programme citywide.