Burnsville police pull SRO’s from high school

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The department has “chosen to stop providing SROs or other contracted peace officers” provided under a longtime agreement with Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191, Superintendent Theresa Battle wrote in a message to staff and families.

“I have been in close contact with Burnsville Police Chief Tanya Schwartz to make sure we understand what this change will mean for the BHS community,” Battle wrote. “She made it clear that, while there won’t be SROs in the school during the school day, the Burnsville Police Department will be present on or near school grounds as part of their standard patrol. This means during major events, such as football games, and of course in response to any requests for support.”

Battle said she’s also asked that officers make “planned patrols” to the high school stopping by at set times each day. The practice was used previously on days when SROs couldn’t be at school.

State lawmakers this year approved a broad education bill that bans some physical holds, including prone restraints of students, Minnesota Public Radio News Partners reported. The law says that school employees and school resource officers can’t physically restrain students in a way that impacts their ability to breathe or voice distress — including holds that put a student’s face on the ground.