Arecibo District senator, police ally for safer schools

Sen. Brenda Pérez Soto (Instagram via senadopr)

By The Star Staff

Arecibo District Sen. Brenda Pérez Soto has entered into a strategic alliance with the Puerto Rico Police Bureau to implement a security and student outreach plan in the region’s schools.

The senator visited the Arecibo police headquarters late last week, where she and Lt. Col. Jaime J. Mont Bruton agreed on a series of measures to promote school security and strengthen the relationship between police officers and the educational community.

Among the agreed-upon actions, Puerto Rico Police officers will regularly visit schools, especially those in grades kindergarten through five. The goal is for students to meet police officers directly, understand the importance of their work in the community, and be motivated to pursue a career in public service, especially in the police force. In addition, preventive patrols will be coordinated during key times, from 7 a.m. to noon and from 3 p.m. onward, to ensure that public schools are safe places for children and provide peace of mind to parents and citizens.

Another commitment made at the meeting was with Sgt. Randy Vargas, who highlighted the need to revitalize police athletic leagues. That initiative, which has been highly successful in developing youth in the communities in the past, will be revived with a renewed focus on engaging children and youth in sports and educational activities that promote positive values.

“I want to thank Lieutenant Colonel Mont for his willingness and commitment to the safety of our communities. We both share the goal of our children seeing police officers as friends and heroes,” the senator said. “It’s important for them to understand the honor of being part of this security force. This security plan we’ve implemented, along with the preventive patrols in schools, aims to assure parents that their children are in a safe environment.”

Pérez Soto added that similar initiatives with other public sector professionals, such as firefighters, nurses and other public servants, are under development to expand the approach to security and education to all institutions across the island.