School Patrols and Safety Missions This Week

School starts for most Portland-area students this Tuesday, September 8. Portland Police officers will also be on patrol to ensure the safety of students.

Today’s press release from Public Information Officer Mary Wheat says “Starting Tuesday, September 8, 2009, and continuing every weekday for the next two weeks, officers from all three precincts, the Traffic Division, the Transit Police Division, and School Resource officers will participate in a citywide school safety mission.”  Officers will be out to enforce traffic laws in school zones, bus zones, and crosswalks, making sure that students can get to and from school safely.

According to Wheat, “Officers will conduct the patrols during the morning commute, 7:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m., during lunch around Portland’s high schools, 11:00a.m.-12:30 p.m., and during the afternoon commute, 1:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m.”  Drivers should remember that the speed limit in school zones is 20 miles per hour, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or whenever school zone lights are flashing.

Wheat’s press release also mentions greatly increased danger at speeds of only 30 mph. “One of the more shocking discoveries is the risk of death for a pedestrian hit at 30 mph, skyrockets to 75%, a speed that some drivers may consider ‘just 10 over’ the school zone speed limit.”

School Resource Officers will also be resuming their duties at Portland Public, Parkrose and David Douglas schools on Tuesday. School resource officers work with school staff, parents and students to provide safe school environments.