Letters to the Editor

School tips program saved Georgia students’ lives

I am writing in response to the… School tips program saved Georgia students’ lives

I am writing in response to the April 12 editorial (“High school offers snitches cash for info”). I am the individual that designed the program that Model High School is using. It is not “snitch” money, but “thank you” money. “Thank you for getting crime out of your school!”

I started the program at Kell High School in Marietta, Ga., in 2003, and it has been more than effective in the reduction of crime in the school.

I was the School Resource Officer at Kell when it first opened for the 2002-2003 school year. The student body is comprised of middle- to upper-middle class families, along the same demographics as Columbine. But with a first year population of over 1,100 students, I had 80 arrests, most of these for illegal drug possessions.

At the beginning of the 2003-2004 school year, a neighboring school caught a ninth grader with a 9mm handgun that he brought to school for “protection.” I went to my principal with the concern that if it could happen five miles away, it could happen here.

So with the principal’s approval I established the reward program. It was funded from traffic fines for violations on school property. This fine money is set aside for security improvements to the school.

For the 2003-2004 school year, the student population grew to more than 1,400, yet my crime rate was cut in half. I think I had the “bad guys” looking over their shoulders and they kept their drugs and weapons out of the school. That year $275 was paid out for rewards leading to five felony weapons cases (knives), one felony drug case (distribution), and three misdemeanor drug cases (marijuana).

But on Dec. 15, 2004, the reward program became worth every penny spent from now on. A 15-year-old student brought a .38-caliber handgun to school. He stated that he brought the gun to intimidate and threaten another student over a previous altercation. Did we save a life that day? How much is a life worth?

Students brought information about the gun to us, some wanting the reward, some because they were scared. I paid three students reward money, and it was worth it. The money I paid out wouldn’t have even bought the flowers for the funeral if that young man had got the opportunity that day, much less the multimillion dollar lawsuit we would have faced for not providing a safe school environment.

I also have this e-mail address as a way that students can relay information to me and keep anonymous.

Dan Knowles

bartowtips@hotmail.com

Police Chief, Bartow County School Police

Cartersville, Ga.