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Minnesota communities have spent the last few years debating the role of police in schools.

In 2020 after the murder of George Floyd, the Minneapolis school board 

 and removed school resource officers, or SROs, from Minneapolis Public Schools.

Many other districts across the country also phased out SROs, 

Then last year, the state Legislature passed a law that limited how officers could physically restrain students. Some law enforcement agencies raised concerns that the new restrictions left them open to lawsuits and 

 from schools just before the start of this school year.

That brings us to the present moment. In March, updated legislation that clarified restraints and provided for more training and a uniform school resource officer policy 

 As some law enforcement agencies prepare to return SROs to schools, basic questions remain:

Do school resource officers make schools safer?

Can a trusted police officer in a school building prevent violence and support students in crisis 

leading to more students being suspended, expelled or arrested?

At 9 a.m. on Tuesday, MPR News host Angela Davis explored the role of SROs with current and former school resource officers.

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on:

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

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Minnesota communities have been rethinking the role of police in schools.  MPR News with Angela Davis talks with current and former school resource officers about the role of SROs and whether they can keep schools safer without sending teenagers into the criminal justice system.   

Can school resource officers make schools safer?

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