Police Propose Heightened Activity at High School

At its meeting Wednesday, March 24, the Darien Police Commission heard a proposal for stepped up police activity at Darien High School.

Captain Gary M. Pavia announced that he's forming a committee with Youth Officer Mark Cappelli to discuss the possibility of adding a part-time school resource officer at DHS. The proposal is still at the "ground level" and would need the consent and funding support of the cash-strapped Board of Education.

"The Board of Education has expressed an interest," said Capt. Pavia.  "The committee will research other programs in the area that have been successful … And we plan on meeting with the Board of Education to submit this proposal and discuss what we want to do."

Part of that discussion will address the possibility of random, after-school locker searches at the high school with the department's canine "Zulu," said Capt. Pavia.

"The canine unit is working on a proposal and I'm going to contact (Superintendent) Fiftal to see what the next steps are."

Superintendent of Schools Don Fiftal said the possibility had been brought to his attention in the past two years but that Capt. Pavia's idea is, at this point, just a concept.

"We aren't as far along as the Captain," said Fiftal. "We need to evolve this idea thoughtfully and carefully."

Police Commission member Linda Santarella called  the proposition a "great idea."

"I like the idea of these discussions. We're a caring community. What's the problem with going into our schools [to protect our kids]? If there was a suspicious package we'd be there," said Santarella.

Board of Education Chair Kim Westcott said she wasn't familiar with how a youth service officer might work in a school, but that it is "way premature" to start talking about canine searches and the like.

"The safety of the kids is our first priority.  We'll look at [the proposal] but I can see it would take some time before we did anything," added Westcott.

Asked if she had heard anything from parents about such a plan, Westcott said "I have heard nothing."

Police Chief Duane Lovello told the commission that his department's relationship with the Board of Education is at its "best level since I've been here.  We've got pretty strong partnerships with the Superintendent's office and the administration at the high school."  

Fiftal plans to retire at the end of the academic year.

According to meeting minutes, Capt. Pavia will "report back on his findings to determine if further action in this regard is worth exploring."

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