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A Massachusetts police department has ended its "high-five" youth outreach program due to concerns that the program could potentially traumatize black children and the children of illegal immigrants.
Under the Northampton Police Department’s “High Five Friday” program, uniformed police officers visited schools on a weekly basis and greeted students with high-fives as they got off the school bus.
According to the Daily Hampshire Gazette, the program, suggested by the International Association of the Chiefs of Police, was meant as a way to “connect with students and show support for schools.”
However, after complaints from members of the public, the program has been suspended.
A Facebook post issued by the Northampton Police Department claims the program was canceled after concerns were raised about how “kids of color” or “undocumented children” might “respond negatively” to the program:
Chief [Jody] Kasper was then invited to attend a follow-up meeting with members of the public to discuss High Five Fridays. About 12-15 people attended the meeting. Concerns were shared that some kids might respond negatively to a group of uniformed officers at their school. People were specifically concerned about kids of color, undocumented children, or any children who may have had negative experiences with the police.
After the meeting, Chief Kasper and Superintendent Provost spoke and decided to stop the High Five Friday, but they remain committed to exploring alternative programs.
In an interview quoted by the New York Times, Kasper said she was concerned that kids could be “traumatized” by the presence of police officers.
“Certainly we do not want to have our officers at a school and have kids, even if it’s a handful of kids, be traumatized and have a negative experience with our officers,” Kasper explained.
The Daily Hampshire Gazette reports Kasper said, “We liked that it was something that was seemingly — seemingly — simple, but has turned out not to be.”
Northampton Public Schools Superintendent John Provost said he is meeting with Kasper on March 14 to come up with alternative programs.
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