National City advisory board debates police officer at library after multiple incidents

Summary

Members of the National City Library Advisory Board discussed a recent decision to assign a police officer to the library for roughly 20 hours a week after staff reported several security incidents, while some board members said the choice should have been brought to the advisory board and urged alternatives and de-escalation training.

At a recent meeting of the National City Library Advisory Board, members discussed the library’s decision to place a police officer on site for about 20 hours a week after staff reported several security incidents, including an instance involving a man with a knife.

The discussion centered on safety for patrons and staff, the board’s role as an advisory body and concerns that a uniformed police presence could deter some patrons. A library staff member said, “we did start the police officer, at the library. Essentially, we'll be at the library for 20 hours a week,” and described scheduled coverage as Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from roughly 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays until about 5 p.m., with no on-site police on Tuesdays and Fridays.

The library staff member told the board that staff had experienced “a man with a knife in the library” and…

National City advisory board debates police officer at library after multiple incidents

Summary

Subscribe to keep reading