Tempe Union Votes To Phase Officers Out Of Schools

TEMPE, AZ — Tempe Union High School District will no longer have police officers in its schools, starting next August, the Associated Press reported.

The district board voted 3-2 Wednesday night to phase out assignment of Phoenix and Tempe police school resource officers to its schools.

The vote followed lengthy public comments from parents, students and police, ABC 15 reported.

The district plans to create a new safety plan that does not include stationing police officers in schools.

Officials with the Tempe Police told ABC 15 that they did not support the school board's decision.

The resolution says that, "Black TUHSD students are three times more likely than their white peers to be referred to law enforcement, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education."

The district plans to work toward "more equitable discipline" practices in Tempe Union schools.

Some speakers during the meeting said they would prefer to see the money currently funding officers in schools used to bring in more mental health help for students, Fox 10 reported.

Phoenix Union High School District’s decided to remove officers from schools last year following the killing of George Floyd while he was restrained by Minneapolis police officers.