14-year-old charged in St. Thomas for bringing BB gun to school
Police chief renews call to return School Resource Officer program
A 14-year-old Elgin County student has been arrested for allegedly bringing a BB gun to a high school in St. Thomas, south of London, Ont.
On Tuesday, the high school administration called the St. Thomas Police Service (STPS) saying the accused possibly had a firearm. Officers learned the teen had brought the weapon to school that day anticipating an altercation with fellow students.
"It sounds really frightening for the other students and the staff at that school," said John Bernans, a local leader with the Ontario Secondary School Teacher's Federation (OSSTF). According to Bernans, three-quarters of his union local's members report experiencing more violence now than they did when their careers started.
"Violence has gotten worse since the pandemic," he said.
St. Thomas police made an arrest after executing a search warrant in Elgin County on Wednesday with the help of the OPP Tactics & Rescue Unit, police said. The firearm was found, seized and proven to be a BB gun.
The accused has been charged with pointing a firearm, uttering threats and failure to comply with a probation order. They were taken to police headquarters where they were processed and held for a morning court appearance.
Police have not said which school the accused attended.
Since early 2024, St. Thomas Police have charged or investigated at least 11 students for violent behaviour at local schools.
Push for return of resource officers in schools
"Since 2021, reported calls for service to the STPS have risen by nearly 55 per cent, with our officers attending schools once every two days," said STPS Chief Marc Roskamp in a statement.
"Violence in schools are clearly becoming a worrisome trend, with teachers, parents, elected officials and the police advocating for change and a return of the School Resource Program (SRO) in some revised form."
The Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) paused its SRO program in 2021, and voted to keep officers out of schools in January 2024.
"Members of marginalized communities have expressed that they felt targeted and intimidated by the SRO program," said Bernans. "I also have members who have expressed that they believe that police can play a role in improving safety in schools while respecting the concerns of those communities."
Bernans said he believes increasing violence could be due to a number of factors, but the level of funding Ontario's education system is receiving isn't enough to deal with it.
"There are fewer adults in schools than there used to be. That certainly puts everybody at risk, having fewer adults in the building to help support students and other staff," Bernans added. "There is [also] a lack of of education workers to support students."
Recently, the OSSTF launched a campaign to raise awareness about issues the union believes are contributing to violence and other issues plaguing public education in Ontario.
Among the recommendations are more funding for qualified staff, the development of an action plan to make schools safer, and the development of campaigns to create nonviolent school cultures, he said.