Canvass training held to raise support for getting School Resource Officers out of schools

SOUTH BEND, Ind.--- The South Bend Chapter of Black Lives Matter held a virtual canvass training session Wednesday night to help raise support to remove school resource officers from South Bend Schools. The South Bend Police Department currently has four resource officers in South Bend Schools.

"What they’re actually doing is making students feel criminalized, making them feel like they’re being overly surveilled and dehumanized," said Kemal Perdana, one of the event's organizers. "Cops, we view are reactive instead of proactive."

Local law enforcement officials say taking school resource officers out of schools is taking a layer of safety away from students. 

"I believe not having them is a big safety issue," said Josh Morgan, Vice President of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #36. "It’s also taking a positive role model from the school."

Activists however say these resources are better directed at someone who doesn't have a gun and a badge.

"Making sure our schools have really well funded counselors that don’t just help you schedule your classes but also assist you in times of stress and mental anguish," said Perdana.