4310 – Relationships with Law Enforcement and Other Government Agencies
The primary responsibility for maintaining proper order and conduct in NWESD 189 cooperative programs resides with NWESD 189 staff. Staff will be responsible for holding students accountable for infractions of program rules, which may include minor violations of the law occurring during program hours or at program activities.
However, there are times when NWESD 189 staff will call upon law enforcement, child protective agencies, and the county health department to ensure the safety and protection of students or staff. When there is substantial threat to the health and safety of students or others such as in the case of bomb threats, threats of violence, or threats of substantial bodily harm, law enforcement will be called upon for assistance. Information regarding major violations of the law will be communicated to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
The NWESD 189 will strive to develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with law enforcement, child protective authorities, and health department officials. The Special Programs Director will confer with representatives of these agencies to establish agreed upon procedures. Such procedures should address the handling/reporting of child abuse and neglect allegations/investigations; communicable disease allegations/investigations; criminal allegations/investigations, including bomb threats/other threat assessment, and arrests by law enforcement officers on NWESD 189 premises; the availability of law enforcement personnel for crowd control; and other matters where the work and duties of the NWESD 189 overlap with these agencies. Such procedures include Procedure 6510-P Emergency Procedures and Procedure 3226-P Interviews and Interrogations of Students on Program Premises. The NWESD 189 will revise the procedures as necessary and make them available to affected staff members.
If the NWESD 189 engages with a school resource officer (SRO), the NWESD 189 will clarify its relationship with the SRO, including the SRO’s purpose, role, supervisory structure, and limitations on access to student information in a written memorandum of understanding (MOU) or as components of the SRO contract.
In contrast to the working relationships noted above, the work of immigration agents does not overlap with the work or duties of the NWESD 189. This is because the NWESD 189’s obligation to educate the children attending its programs is not diminished by the children or parents’ immigration status. Further, the NWESD 189 supports the federal immigration enforcement policy that directs immigration agents to avoid questioning and arrests at sensitive locations. Therefore, staff will not grant information or access to immigration agents unless/until the NWESD 189 Superintendent and/or NWESD 189 legal counsel determine the request complies with Plyler v. Doe and other applicable laws according to the criteria in 3226P Interviews and Interrogations of Students on Program Premises.
Child Protective Services or agencies and law enforcement are defined as stated in RCW 26.44.020. County health department means a local entity defined in RCW 70.05.010. “Immigration agent” shall mean an agent of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, any individuals authorized to conduct enforcement of civil immigration laws under 8 U.S.C. §1357(g) or any other federal law, other federal agents charged with enforcement of civil immigration laws, and any successors.
First Reading: 04/25/01
Second Reading: 05/23/01
Revised: 08/28/13
Revised: 01/23/19
Reference:
RCW 28A.310.180
RCW 28A.310.210
RCW 28A.635.020
RCW 26.44.030
RCW 26.44.050
RCW 26.44.110
RCW 26.44.115
Date Revised: 1/23/19