District teams with city and county to enhance police patrols in school zones

District teams with city and county to enhance police patrols in school zones

Walla Walla Public Schools, the City of Walla Walla and Walla Walla County have teamed to form the Walla Walla Aggressive Drivers Response Team to increase police patrols in school zones.

The program is designed to keep children, parents and staff safe in school zones by creating zero tolerance for traffic infractions in these areas.

Walla Walla Public Schools Superintendent Mick Miller says forming an alliance between the three organizations will enhance the program's effectiveness as it relates to enforcement, awareness and education.

"We value this partnership as we work collaboratively to keep kids safe in our school zones," Miller said. "We've had several near misses this school year and believe it's important to be proactive when it comes to the safety of our students."

Motorists will see additional police officers on foot, in cars and on motorcycles while driving through school zones at all 10 district schools. The patrols will be a combination of officers working additional shifts during their off-duty hours and reorganizing existing police resources to focus on traffic enforcement in school zones.

Walla Walla Public Schools is providing a portion of the funding for the additional patrols in school zones. Walla Walla City Manager Nabiel Shawa says enforcement is a strong deterrence to aggressive driving, especially in school zones where traffic fines are much higher.

"The City of Walla Walla is committed to safety in our parks, on our streets and certainly to our children's daily walks to and from their neighborhood schools," Shawa said. "The partnership with the Walla Walla School District to increase patrols in and around school zones supports that worthy goal."

County Commissioner Gregg Loney says Walla Walla County officials are also committed to improving safety in school zones.

"Child safety is a vital concern and a high priority to all Walla Walla County residents, and the Board of County Commissioners, as the county legislative authority, supports efforts to create greater awareness of the need to make traveling to and from schools safer for students," Loney said. "This board, as well as county sheriff's office deputies and other county personnel, will be working closely with school administration and safety task force members to help emphasize and spotlight the importance of and need for extra care and caution along and in school travel zones, and to work to improve safety infrastructure, to protect precious young lives." 

A group of concerned parents has recently formed the 'To & From: The Safe Travels Alliance' to advocate for improved traffic safety in school zones. They have organized a broad group of community leaders, parents, district staff and students to focus on finding immediate, mid-range and long-range solutions for the education, enforcement and safety infrastructure as it relates to traveling to and from school. Parents and community activists Kathryn Southwick-Hess and Katie Christianson are chairing the effort.

"The presence of law enforcement officers is a visual reminder to drivers, pedestrians & other non-motorized travelers that there are laws to be followed in school zones," Southwick-Hess said. "Receiving a citation or witnessing others being pulled over is a powerful reminder that existing laws will be enforced."

Walla Walla Aggressive Drivers Response Team posters, banners and flyers are being created to inform the public about the program. Parents, staff and students will also be briefed on the program as part of the communications effort.

For more information, contact Communications Director Mark Higgins at (509) 526-6716 or mhiggins@wwps.org.