LTPS and LTPD Strengthen Community Partnership with Addition of Second Full-Time School Resource Officer to Secondary Campus

 

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ — Lawrence Township Public Schools (LTPS) and the Lawrence Township Police Department (LTPD) are celebrating an exciting expansion of their longstanding community policing partnership as the district prepares for the future of its transformed secondary campus.

As part of the planning surrounding the voter-approved $98 million bond referendum and the continued evolution of the Lawrence Middle School and Lawrence High School campus, LTPS and LTPD are proud to announce the addition of a second full-time Lawrence Township Police Department officer assigned to the campus, effective on the first day of school at LTPS, September 1.

With this addition, one full-time LTPD officer will be assigned to Lawrence Middle School and one full-time officer will be assigned to Lawrence High School.

The expansion represents much more than an additional layer of support and safety. It is an investment in relationships.

The officers will become familiar faces in each school, getting to know students, staff, and families while also building connections that extend beyond the school day and into the greater Lawrence Township community.

“This is such an exciting partnership because it truly is a win-win for everyone,” said Dr. Robyn A. Klim, Superintendent of Lawrence Township Public Schools. “Our students will have the opportunity to get to know the officers who serve their community, and those officers will get to know our students; not just as students in a school building, but as young people and members of our community.”

By having dedicated officers at both Lawrence Middle School and Lawrence High School, students will see and interact with familiar faces throughout their school experience. Those same officers may also see students at community events, in neighborhoods, and throughout Lawrence Township, helping to build relationships based on familiarity, trust, and mutual respect.

“Community policing is all about building relationships,” said Chief of Police, Kevin Reading. “Having two full-time officers assigned to the 7–12 campus gives us an incredible opportunity to become even more connected with the students, staff, and families of Lawrence Township. We want our young people to know the officers who serve them, and we want our officers to know the young people and families who make up this community.”

The expanded partnership comes at an exciting time for Lawrence Township Public Schools as work continues on the referendum projects that will transform the Middle School and High School campus. While the physical improvements will create enhanced learning spaces and opportunities for students, LTPS and LTPD believe that investing in people and relationships is equally important. 

The collaboration also directly supports LTPS's commitment to Community Engagement & Involvement, one of the priorities identified through the district's Strategic Plan.

“This is community partnership in action,” Dr. Klim said. “Our schools, our police department, our Township, and our families all share the same goal: creating the very best environment possible for our young people to learn, grow, and thrive. The addition of a second full-time officer allows us to strengthen those connections in meaningful ways.”

Both LTPS and LTPD are enthusiastic about what the expanded partnership will mean for the future.

For students, it means knowing the officers they see at school and in the community. For officers, it means getting to know the students and families they serve. For the schools and the community, it means working together toward a shared vision.

One campus. Two dedicated officers. One stronger community.

“This is truly a partnership that benefits everyone,” said Chief Reading. “We are incredibly excited to continue building on the strong relationship between LTPD and LTPS and to be an even more visible, connected part of the school community.”

As Lawrence Township Public Schools continues to prepare for the future of its secondary campus, the strengthened partnership between LTPS and LTPD is another example of what can happen when a community comes together.

It is a win for our students. A win for our schools. A win for our officers. And a win for the entire Lawrence Township community.