FILE:  LDAJ

 

RELATIONS WITH POLICE AUTHORITIES

 

 

It is the policy of the East Feliciana Parish School Board to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in the interest of the larger welfare of all citizens.  At the same time, schools have the respon­sibility to parents for the welfare of the students while they are in the care of the school.

 

Should there be cause or necessity for law enforcement personnel to serve papers, interview and/or arrest any student/employee at an East Feliciana Parish School Board owned facility, the following procedures or guidelines are being recommended to administrators in an effort to cooperate with law enforcement personnel:

 

1.

The law enforcement personnel shall be requested to check-in with the administrator's office immediately upon entering the facility.  Under no reasonable circumstances should they be directed into an individual office/classroom first.

 

2.

The administrator shall require the law enforcement personnel to show proper identification:

 

A.

Law enforcement personnel will be requested to state their name(s), present badge(s) and branch (state police, parish police, town police, etc.) of law enforcement.

 

B.

State name(s) of student(s)/employee(s) requested.

 

C.

Each visit will be documented whether the student(s)/employee(s) were served with papers, interviewed/or arrested.

 

3.

The administrator shall ask the law enforcement personnel to state the purpose/business of their visit.

 

4.

If the administrator has any questions about the authority of the law enforcement personnel or whether the law enforcement personnel is actually on official business, he/she should ask the law enforcement personnel for the name and telephone number of his/her "superior" and shall call said "superior" to verify information provided by the law enforcement personnel.  In lieu of this procedure, the administrator may call the Superintendent and/or designee for assistance.

 

5.

Prior to allowing the law enforcement personnel to serve papers, interview and/or arrest a student/employee, the administrator (or designee) shall use his/her own discretion, when deemed appropriate with the law enforcement personnel, bring the student/employee into the privacy of his/her office and follow Board policies covering the same, including making all possible efforts to contact the parent/legal guardian of a minor student.  If the parent/legal guardian indicates that he/she can come immediately to the administrator's office, the administrator shall inform the law enforcement personnel of this fact and shall ask the law enforcement personnel to delay while the parent/legal guardian is enroute to the facility.  If the parent/legal guardian cannot or does not make it to the facility within a reasonable period of time, or, if the parent/legal guardian cannot be contacted, the administrator (or designee) should sit in on this conference and allow the law enforcement officer to carry out serving papers, interviewing and/or arresting a student/employee.

 

NOTE:  In case of emergency or situations where short delay would seriously interfere with ability of law enforcement personnel to obtain evidence, or make an arrest, the administrator will follow Board policy and allow the law enforcement officer to interview and/or arrest the minor students.  Efforts to contact the parent/legal guardian and notify him/her of the situation shall be done as soon as reasonably possible and documented (dates, times, phone numbers called, persons spoken with, etc.) in accordance with Board policy.

 

6.

For each instance that law enforcement personnel arrive at a facility to serve papers interview and/or arrest a student/employee, the administrator shall document in writing the following items:

 

a.

Date and time of visit.

 

b.

Law enforcement personnel will be requested to state their name(s), present badge(s) and branch (state police, parish police, town police, etc.) of law enforcement.

 

c.

State name(s) of student(s)/employee(s) requested.

 

d.

Each visit will be documented whether the student(s)/employee(s) were served with papers, interviewed/or arrested.

 

e.

For students, whether or not their parent/legal guardian was present, and, if not present, the reason why not will be documented in accordance with Board policy.

 

Re-Adopted:  November 3, 1998

 

 

Ref:    Board minutes, 9-4-73, 10-3-78, 11-3-98

Superintendent's Memo, 2-17-95

 

East Feliciana Parish School Board