A Los Angeles County probation officer speaks out about Taft High
Dear Sir,
When Taft High School did not want a gang probation officer on campus, they didn't get one.
The Chief Probation Officer, Shumsky did not want his school based probation officer deputies, armed. They were not.
The then Mayor declared war on gangs on the steps of City Hall. Everyone including the Mayor forgot about that war on gangs and a police probation team was deleted from the Valley's special Los Angeles County schools that do precisely what parents want: move gang members out of City schools and into Community Court Schools. Result: A murder in January of 2000 outside of campus as students waited for buses and rides home.
Lastly, security that I called for repeatedly in meetings of police officers and probation officers and school authorities was never instituted. Reason: We don't have the money!
Now, kids in one of the "safest, model melting pot" schools in Woodland Hills have been shot by gangsters. I believe it could have been prevented. Now school officials are talking about brief extra security and are including Probation Officers. That's great. They are unarmed and could simply be additional victims.
Parents are starting to demand policies that make sense. Will the Chiefs ever listen to their employees who are recognized experts in the field. I doubt it. They haven't so far. The carnage will continue until they do.
Name Withheld
Deputy Probation Officer - L. A. County Probation
Intensive Gang Supervision Unit (Formerly Specialized Gang Suppression Unit
