Safe House Program for Children to Expand
A pilot program that encourages residents and business owners to watch children on their way to and from school will be implemented citywide, Los Angeles police and school officials announced Thursday.
The Safe House program, formerly called Kid Watch, was given approval after a trial run near the Coliseum received positive reviews.
“I think it is a great idea. It should really help bring the police, school and community together.” said Joe Writer, the Northeast Division’s senior lead officer for Silver Lake and Echo Park.
The program was created after a USC survey indicated that for many children living near the campus, the biggest concern about school was simply getting there and back home safely.
In the Safe House program, children are told that in case of trouble they can go to a neighborhood “safe house,” where a volunteer has placed a large yellow decal in the front window.
The pilot Kid Watch program, which started in July, was spearheaded by LAPD Officer Randy Cochran and Los Angeles school district Sgt. Nancy Ramirez. “We had a feeling it would catch on, but we didn’t anticipate it so quickly,” Ramirez said.
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