MEDIA CONTACT: Beth Yohe,
Executive Director
303-865-5625
beth.yohe@conflictcenter.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 28, 2023
Press Release on Gun Violence at Denver East High School
Denver, CO – The recent spate of gun violence incidents in Colorado schools has left the
community grieving and frightened. The most recent incident at East High School has left
many reeling, but The Conflict Center is committed to working with the community to ensure
that students and staff feel safe at school. Our hearts are with the victims of the recent
shooting at East and all East students, families and staff as they process these traumatic
events. We are grateful for the prognosis of both administrators.
The Conflict Center recognizes the need for immediate action and we caution against
reactive measures that do not address root causes of violence. We applaud the addition of
mental health support in schools and we have concerns about the recent memorandum
from Superintendent Marrero and the DPS School Board placing armed guards back in all
high schools for the rest of the year.
The Conflict Center believes that the involvement and voices of students must be central in
any dialogue and action regarding safety in schools and youth violence. Research shows
that the presence of School Resource Officers (SROs) in schools does not have any impact
on school shootings; rather it results in higher rates of punitive discipline, including
suspensions and in-school arrests. This overuse of punitive discipline has created a
school-to-prison pipeline that disproportionately affects students of color and other
marginalized groups.
The Conflict Center also recognizes that the presence of guns in schools can create
psychological distress for students and staff, even in the hands of armed police. We support
community-centered violence reduction approaches that address root causes and prioritize
mental health supports, restorative practices and addressing foundational needs of youth.
The next steps taken by the Denver Public Schools Administration are critical, and we stand
ready to work with the community to create plans that look at root causes and are
research-informed regarding what measures actually work to address violence in schools.
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View full TCC Statement Here
Resources for Continued Education
● American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) report: “Cops and No Counselors: How the
Lack of School Mental Health Staff is Harming Students”: This report examines the
impact of police in schools and argues that investing in mental health resources
would be more effective in creating safe school environments.
● Advancement Project report: “Police in Schools Are Not the Answer to the Newtown
Shooting”: This report argues that police in schools are not effective in preventing
mass shootings and can lead to increased criminalization of students.
● National Education Policy Center report: “Police in Schools: An Overview of the
Debate and of the Research”: This report provides an overview of the debate over
police in schools and analyzes the available research on the topic.
● Do school resource officers make schools safer?
