Security at Board Meetings
Submitted by Allen Gwinn on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 08:32.
by Lt. Calvin Howard, DISD Police
As the Lieutenant over security at Dallas ISD Board Meetings I have been questioned on occassion by some in attendance as to why we do not respond immediately when there are outbursts.
For your information and that of your readers I am enclosing excerpts of our Board Meetings Operation Plan so everyone will know our role. All I ask is that my officers are respected for what we have to do and to comply when we gesture to the audience to refrain from outburst.
The last thing we want to do is to remove someone from the meeting as everyone is entitled to express themselves, but, they should respect others speaking as they want to be respected when they speak.
General Board Meeting:
Outburst or Removal:
a. Typically, should there be any kind of disruption(s) from members of the audience officers assigned inside the auditorium will refrain from taking action until directed to do so by the President of the Board of Trustees or his/her designee.
b. If the disruption(s) are to the magnitude where the behavior becomes violent in nature the Command Level Officer-In-Charge will advise the President of the Trustees or his/her designee to go into recess, if he/she has not already done so, until order can be restored and the person causing the disruption can be removed.
c. Should someone have to be removed from the audience, typically at the direction of the President of the Board of Trustees or his/her designee, the person will be removed under the supervision of the Command Level Officer-In-Charge. All officers will use a high level of professionalism when carrying out this measure.
d. The person being removed from the auditorium will be escorted to the parking lot and instructed to leave the general area. If possible, get the individuals to leave without making physical contact with him/her.
e. Should the ejected spectator become uncontrollable causing physical restraint to have to be used, based upon the severity and degree of restraint being used, the individual will either be issued a citation or arrested for the actions causing the disruption or removal.
Security
How do you enforce security without seeming to be overzealous? Doe smoving in closer to a disruptive person bring calm or harken back to days of intimidation?
DISD cops are in a tight spot, but they do let people go on a bit until it is clear to all that the person(s) is/are causing a disturbance or are impeding the meeting. Overall, they do a pretty good job of a thankless task.
BBeach
If he had been quick to have people removed you would be on here complaining that he was overzealous and denying people their first amendment rights.
The more I read on here the more I realize that regardless of what Jack Lowe did he will always be wrong.
Loew didn't respond to outbursts as policy suggests
Refer to (a) under Outbursts or Removals. Loew would ask, pound his gavel, take a short recess, but in the 3 years I've attended countless meetings, I have never once seen him act on having someone removed. One meeting he got onto the some person 4 times, but unless they are asked by Loew to remove the disturber, they are able to stay. I even sent to rules to him, after that particular meeting. He did as he pleased. Let's see how much he has to say in Medrano's old seat !!
Delicate dance for DISD cops
How do you enforce security without seeming to be overzealous? Doe smoving in closer to a disruptive person bring calm or harken back to days of intimidation?
DISD cops are in a tight spot, but they do let people go on a bit until it is clear to all that the person(s) is/are causing a disturbance or are impeding the meeting. Overall, they do a pretty good job of a thankless task.
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