Laguna Beach students urge council to keep female school resource officer amid rotation policy

Hundreds of students, parents and school staff pressed the Laguna Beach City Council to preserve a female school resource officer (SRO) at Laguna Beach High School during a two-hour public-comment block. Students said the planned four‑year rotation that will move Officer Ashley Crotine out of the campus risks silencing victims of sexual harassment and assault who are more likely to report to women.

The appeals came during the meeting’s public comment period, where students and educators described personal experiences and presented survey results estimating how many female students would feel uncomfortable reporting to a male officer. “You cannot preach student safety and strip us of the one person who makes us feel safe,” student Ruby Sampson told the council. Several other students and staff offered specific examples of situations in which Officer Crotine’s presence increased reporting and supported students through trauma.

Why it matters: Councilmembers and staff said the SRO assignment lies at the intersection of personnel policy and district decisions, but they also acknowledged the public‑safety and equity concerns raised by students. The issue highlights limits of city authority over school‑district staffing while raising questions about whether personnel rotation rules should be amended to allow continuity in critical support roles.

What speakers pressed for: Speakers asked the council to (a) intervene with LBUSD and the Laguna Beach Police Department to keep a female SRO on campus; (b) revisit policies requiring automatic four‑year rotations for specialized assignments; and (c) pursue options to ensure at least one female SRO is assigned to high‑school campuses given the prevalence of reports of sexual harassment and assault.

City response and next steps: City Manager and staff said the item was not on the evening’s agenda but that city staff and police leadership were already in conversations with the district and would continue to discuss alternatives including additional SRO positions, expanded gender‑inclusive assignment policies, or other arrangements that maintain student safety and the district’s personnel procedures. The city manager invited interested parties to continue the conversation with staff and the police chief; no formal action, ordinance or vote was taken by the council on staffing changes.

What didn’t happen: The council did not adopt a city policy that would override the district’s personnel rotation rules and made no binding order restricting the district’s or police department’s ability to rotate personnel. Councilmembers repeatedly cautioned that the district controls school staffing and that the city’s role would be to coordinate and recommend policy changes, not to unilaterally reassign officers.

Community reaction and context: Testimony came primarily from Laguna Beach High School students, teachers and PTA members who described Officer Crotine as a trusted counselor and advocate. Speakers cited national data about under‑reporting of sexual assault and said representation affects reporting rates. Multiple parents and community members urged the council to change rotation policy or request a district exception for SRO assignments.

What to watch: Council and staff said they will continue discussions with LBUSD and police leadership, report back to the public on options for preserving female SRO continuity, and consider whether a city‑level policy or memorandum of understanding with the district could address the students’ concerns.