The United Professors of Los Angeles (UTLA) union said Monday that they support the proposal to remove the $ 70 million school police from the school district's budget.

The teachers union is in favor of eliminating the Los Angeles School Police Department

An officer from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department outside Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California.

Photo:
FREDERIC J. BROWN / AFP / Getty Images

Last Monday leaders of the union of United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA), expressed their support for a proposal that seeks to eliminate Los Angeles School Police Department.

The operation of Los Angeles School Police Department have a budget of $ 70 million annually and with an approximate of 400 officers who serve in the schools of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).

The Union UTLA represents more than 33,000 teachers, nurses, and counselors who work in LAUSD.

The proposal would seek use the funds allocated to the department in other social programs as more mental health professionals, counselors, and academic tutors. "We can have 800 mental health specialists using that moneyAlex Caputo-Pearl, UTLA President, told L.A. Times.

The House of Representatives of UTLA will vote soon to determine if it takes place the elimination of the School Police Department.

The union of United Teachers of Los Angeles ensures that 88% of Los Angeles Unified School District students are African American, serving the most youth of color than any other school district in California.

Further, UTLA ensures that there is research showing that having police officers in schools has a negative impact on learning children in addition to giving a feeling of insecurity.

The union assures on its website that other school districts like Minneapolis and Portland their school police officers have been suspended. In addition other school districts in Arizona, North Carolina, Washington, Oregon and New York they would be considering similar measures.

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