Series 5000: Students

5145.11 School/Police Cooperation

Relations with Law Enforcement Agencies

School Police Cooperation 

This regulation is intended to balance the needs of school and police officials. The reduction of ambiguity and confusion in how these officials interact will provide an optimal environment for education while ensuring that the public safety needs of the school and community are  adequately met. 

Generally, police should be notified immediately of any crime. Police will make every attempt to minimize distractions or disruption of school routines during the performance of their duties.  There may be instances where the transgression is so slight that the school administrator can  resolve the issue himself/herself. Examples of crimes that fall into this category are theft or  pocket change, minor vandalism, or minor physical altercations in which there is no injury or  pain inflicted upon either participant. 

Event/Suggested Action

Vandalism, Breaking, Entering, etc. Police should be notified immediately. (cf. 5131.5 – Vandalism) 

Alcohol, Drugs, etc. The suspected drug or alcohol should be secured by the building administrator and given directly to the responding police officer. 

The police officer will sign a receipt and give it to the building administrator. Prescription drugs out of the container should be seized and the prescription confirmed via the subscribing doctor. If the prescription is not valid the drug should be seized and the police notified. (cf. 5131.6 – Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco) 

Loitering As long as the school grounds are posted, “no trespassing”,  warnings prior to arrest are not required. Notification of police and requests for arrest are within the discretion of the building administrator. 

Confrontations Confrontations where students become involved in loud  tumultuous behavior but do not assault another is a violation of the law and police can arrest for this behavior. The decision to call police and request an arrest is within the discretion of the building administrator. 

Assaults Physical altercations in which students are injured or pain has been inflicted upon another should be reported to the police as soon as practicable.

Weapons Confiscated weapons that are illegal in themselves should be  turned over to the police department immediately by the school official who seized same. This category of weapons includes knives with over a four-inch blade cutting edge, dirk knives, switch blade knives, martial arts weapons and guns. Ammunition should also be immediately turned over to the police. Any evidence or information relative to firearms in the school should be immediately relayed to the police. Weapons that are not illegal in themselves but are a violation of school policy. Police notifications in these instances are within the discretion of the school administrator. (cf. 5131.7 – Weapons and Dangerous Instruments) 

Bomb Scare Suspect Devices Do not handle suspected devices. Notify Superintendent’s office and police. Police will notify the Fire Department. A building check will be completed by custodial staff. The building administrator will decide whether or not to evacuate following discussions with the police and fire officials. The administrator will notify the Superintendent of his/her decision. 

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Civil Disobedience When known about in advance, school and police should plan  beforehand. Picketing is legal whereas blocking traffic, etc., is 

illegal. 

Motor Vehicles, Parking Lots Police routinely patrol parking lots and may arrest or summon individuals in said lots. Students involved in motor vehicle accidents in parking lots that result in personal injury or damages 

are required to report both to the police. (cf. 5131.3 – Student Driving/Parking) 

Police Interviews Police interviews generally will not take place on school grounds. However, if the police do indicate that an interview on school grounds is necessary, school authorities shall cooperate.

Police Interviews Of Juveniles When the interview involves a juvenile, the police will notify and shall usually arrange to have a parent present. The exceptions to this rule are (a) if the student is being interviewed as a victim 

and/or (b) if there is an overriding immediate public safety concern. If a student under the age of 16 is being interviewed by the police and the parent/guardian cannot be present, a member of the school staff will be present. 

Child Abuse School officials will notify the Department of Children and  Families and the police of suspected child abuse cases. If staff members have reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been abused by a school employee, they must report the abuse to the Superintendent who will notify the DCF and police. (cf. 5141.4 –Reporting of Child Abuse/Neglect) 

Extracurricular Activities Police assigned on site must have two-way communications if additional police resources are needed. Police officials assigned to extracurricular activities shall report to the school administrator to 

discuss appropriate monitoring procedures. 

Arrest Warrants There are times in which the police may decide to pick u p a  student due to the Warrant being issued for his/her arrest. Once notified of an outstanding Arrest Warrant for a student, the student should be escorted from class by school personnel and remain in a secured office until the police arrive. The arrested student will be 

removed from the school in a way that minimizes embarrassment to the student and any disruption of the school routine. 

Confidential Police Police officials are prohibited by state and federal law from disclosing confidential juvenile arrest information or using the 

police computer network to obtain information relative to 

registration numbers, home addresses, etc. 

Search of Students School officials may search students, bookbags, lockers, desks,  etc., using the established “reasonable suspicion” standard. In cases where a student is suspected of carrying a dangerous weapon and there is a safety issue inherent in the search process itself, the police should conduct the search after the student is secured in an office. (cf. 5145.12 – Search and Seizure)

Notification of a Student’s Arrest 

Pursuant to the requirements of PA 94-221, whenever the Superintendent receives oral or written  notification from the local police department or state police that a student was arrested for a felony  or class A misdemeanor, he/she shall maintain the written report in a secure location and the  information in the report shall be maintained as confidential in accordance with section 46b-124.  The Superintendent may disclose such information only to the principal of the school in which the  student is enrolled or the supervisory agent of any other school in which the student is enrolled. 

The Principal or supervisory agent may disclose such information only to special service staff or a  consultant, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker, for the purposes of assessing the  risk of danger posed by the person, other student school employees or property and effectuating an  appropriate modification of such person's educational plan or placement for disciplinary purposes.  Such information with respect to a child under sixteen years of age shall be confidential in  accordance with 46b-124 and shall only be disclosed as provided in this section and shall not be  further disclosed. 

Legal Reference:

Connecticut General Statutes 

10-221 Boards of education to prescribe rules. 

10-233g(b) Boards to report school violence. 

17a-101 Protection of children from abuse. 

17a-102 Report of danger of abuse. 

53a-185 Loitering in or about school grounds: Class C Misdemeanor. 

Reports of principals to police authority. 

New Jersey v T.L.O., 53 U.S.L.W. 4083 (1988), 469 U.S. 325; 105 S.CT  733. 

PA 94-221 An Act Concerning School Discipline and Security. 

Regulation approved: February 12, 2018 THOMASTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS Thomaston, Connecticut