Crime

Ed Joyner to lead Chartiers Valley school security

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER — In an effort to bolster security in school districts across the commonwealth, Gov. Tom Wolf signed Act 44 last June, mandating certain changes. One of those is that districts hire a school safety and security coordinator. For the 2018-2019 school year, the Chartiers Valley School District appointed its assistant superintendent to comply, and though capable, he did not have any law enforcement experience. That has changed.

Published

5 years ago

July 12, 2019

Courier Editor

By Christian Morrow

In an effort to bolster security in school districts across the commonwealth, Gov. Tom Wolf signed Act 44 last June, mandating certain changes. One of those is that districts hire a school safety and security coordinator. For the 2018-2019 school year, the Chartiers Valley School District appointed its assistant superintendent to comply, and though capable, he did not have any law enforcement experience. That has changed.

On June 11, the board unanimously voted to hire Ed Joyner, a 25-year veteran of the Pennsylvania State Police and a former aide to Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, to fill the position.

District Superintendent Johannah Vanatta said Joyner brings a lot to the table and will allow for the district to have an officer in each of its four buildings.

“While (Assistant Superintendent) Seltzer served the district well, he has many other duties and no background in law enforcement, safety, and security. School safety experts like NASRO (National Association of School Resource Officers) recommend that school districts place an officer in every building,” she told the New Pittsburgh Courier. “Mr. Joyner has an extensive law enforcement background which will serve him well in his role here at Chartiers Valley.”

The district, which serves students from Bridgeville, Collier Township and Scott Township, previously relied exclusively on municipal police for security. Joyner will now coordinate safety and security. Since retiring from the state police in January, Joyner, 52, has worked part-time with the Borough of Sewickley Police, but he is not unfamiliar with school security, having worked as an officer for the Pittsburgh Public Schools before joining the state police.

Vanatta said Act 44 requires school districts to be much more accountable in matters of safety and security. Beyond traditional fire and weather drills and safety and security plans, districts are required to report on safety and security annually, survey the community, include employee crisis training, and update plans annually with local first responders, among other things.

“Under the direction of the superintendent, the Safety and Security Coordinator will also be expected to understand the pedagogy component of the position and develop a school safety curriculum, write and apply for grants, remain familiar with current safety trends, serve as a district liaison with law enforcement, social services and other services such as homeless, mental health and refugee,” she said.

“Officer Joyner will incorporate the NASRO triad model—educator, informal counselor and law enforcement officer—throughout the district. He will coordinate training for faculty, staff and students regarding situational and trauma awareness, behavioral health, suicide and bullying, substance abuse, and emergency response procedures for fire, natural disaster, active shooter, hostage and threat situations.”

Joyner officially begins in August.

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This article originally appeared in the New Pittsburgh Courier.

Courier Editor

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

3 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

Oakland Post

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California Black Media

Anti-Theft Bill with Jail-Time Requirement Gets Wide Ranging Support

Fed up with the alarming frequency of retail theft across California, including smash and grabs, a diverse group of business leaders, law enforcement officials, policymakers and public safety advocates joined their efforts in Sacramento on Jan. 24. Their purpose: to increase public support for Assembly Bill (AB) 1772, a bill that would make jail time mandatory for repeat theft offenders.

Published

5 days ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

San Bernardino Police Chief Darren Goodman speaks as Asm. James Ramos (D-San Bernardino), left, stands beside him at a news conference in Sacramento concerning retail theft across the state.

By California Black Media

Fed up with the alarming frequency of retail theft across California, including smash and grabs, a diverse group of business leaders, law enforcement officials, policymakers and public safety advocates joined their efforts in Sacramento on Jan. 24.

Their purpose: to increase public support for Assembly Bill (AB) 1772, a bill that would make jail time mandatory for repeat theft offenders.

Co-authored by Assemblymembers James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim) and Devon Mathis (R-Tulare), AB 1772 would require jail time “of one to three years for theft crimes depending upon the circumstances.

“Offenses would include grand theft, theft from an elder or dependent adult, theft or unauthorized use of a vehicle, burglary, carjacking, robbery, receiving stolen property, shoplifting or mail theft,” the bill language reads.

Ramos said the need to act is urgent.

“It’s time for us to reverse the spikes in theft crimes since the pandemic. Our law enforcement members and district attorneys need additional tools such as AB 1772. We must reverse the trend before the problem grows worse. Last year I requested a state audit of the impact of Prop 47 on Riverside and San Bernardino counties,” said Ramos.

Prop 47 is the California initiative, approved by voters in 2014, that reclassified some felonies to misdemeanors and raised the minimum amount for most misdemeanor thefts from $400 to $950.

According to a Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) report, the rate of occurrence of petty crimes like shoplifting and commercial burglaries have increased by double digits over the last four years.

In Orange County alone, commercial burglaries have spiked by 54%.

“Our communities are experiencing an increase in retail crime and deserve appropriate action from their legislators,” Valencia said.

San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus thanked Ramos.

“This bill, designed to impose stricter penalties on serial retail theft suspects, responds urgently to the escalating consequences of shoplifting and related crimes on our communities,” he said.

AB 1772 supporters who spoke at the gathering included Sacramento Sheriff Jim Cooper and San Bernardino Chief of Police Darren Goodman. Listed as supporters are the California State Sheriff’s Association, City of Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez and Redlands Chamber of Commerce.