Soon after East Substantial taking pictures, Denver superintendent commits to return law enforcement to comprehensive substantial educational facilities

Denver Superintendent Alex Marrero mentioned he will have an armed officer at each of the district’s comprehensive superior faculties — a move that he acknowledges probably violates university board plan.

In a letter Marrero despatched to faculty board customers Wednesday several several hours immediately after a college student shot two deans at East Higher University, he wrote that he is “committing to having an armed officer at just about every in depth higher university.” He reported he will have “ongoing discussions” with principals at each and every faculty “to comprehend their continuing need and drive for this resource.”

Earlier that working day, at a push meeting outside East with Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas, Marrero reported East would have two armed law enforcement officers stationed there for the remainder of the university year, but he did not dedicate to obtaining police at other colleges. 

The Denver college board voted in 2020 to remove law enforcement officers identified as university source officers, or SROs, from faculties. 

That directive was enshrined in a plan that mandates the superintendent “not staff members district colleges with university resource officers or the reliable existence of stability armed with guns or any other law enforcement personnel.”

“However, I can no lengthier stand on the sidelines,” Marrero wrote in a letter obtained by Chalkbeat and verified as correct by a district spokesperson. “I am inclined to settle for the consequences of my actions.”

School board President Xóchitl “Sochi” Gaytán could not right away be reached for remark.

The faculty board is liable for selecting and firing the superintendent. Marrero was employed to direct Denver General public Schools in June 2021, after the faculty board voted to oust SROs.

In the letter, Marrero noted that Wednesday was the fourth time he’d frequented Denver Overall health hospital’s intensive care unit “due to victims of gun violence.”

“These events ought to not have occurred on my check out or on this board’s view,” he wrote. He mentioned he was performing “because I am the leader of this district who is billed with preserving our scholars and staff risk-free each and every and just about every day.”

Marrero asked for that he and the board have a conversation Thursday in a shut-door govt session “with select workers customers becoming involved.”

“It is critical we find prevalent floor and ensure our students and staff are safe and sound and come across alignment of our existing values,” Marrero wrote. 

Melanie Asmar is a senior reporter for Chalkbeat Colorado, masking Denver Community Colleges. Get in touch with Melanie at [email protected].