The Last Line of Defense: Why School Resource Officers Are Needed Now More Than Ever with Clyde Boatwright
Episode #47 | 4 April 2023
Baltimore is a cautionary tale of when anti-police rhetoric, activist judges, and rogue prosecutors collide. The “charm city” currently has some of the highest murder and violent crimes rates of any city in the country. However, this hasn’t stopped the brave men and women of the Baltimore Police Department and the Baltimore City School Police Force from suiting up and showing up every day to serve their communities.
On this episode of the Blue View Podcast, National FOP President Patrick Yoes sits down with Clyde Boatwright, a police sergeant with the Baltimore City School Police Force, its union president, and the President of the Maryland State FOP.
As a former school resource officer, National President Yoes dives into the critical role school resource officers play and discusses with the President Boatwright the need for law enforcement officers in our public schools.
“The argument [is] that we shouldn’t have law enforcement officers in schools… We’re requiring [safety] on one end and we ignore it when it [comes to] some of our greatest assets that we have, the most valuable thing to us: our kids. We’re ignoring our duty and responsibility to make sure that we have a safe learning environment.”
— National President Patrick Yoes
“Those who would argue that law enforcement officers shouldn’t be in schools; they’re afraid that they might realize that we’re not the bad guys that we’ve been portrayed to be.”
— National President Patrick Yoes
About Clyde Boatwright
Clyde Boatwright currently serves as the President of the Maryland State Fraternal Order of Police, which represents and serves over twenty thousand active and retired law enforcement officers from agencies throughout the state.
A Sergeant with the Baltimore City School Police Force, Clyde has served more than 20 years as a law enforcement officer. He also serves as the President of the Baltimore City School Police Union.
Law enforcement officers have one of the toughest and most dangerous jobs in the United States. The brave men and women of law enforcement are charged with the enormous responsibility of keeping our streets and neighborhoods safe.
Be sure to tune in to Blue View, a weekly podcast presented by the National Fraternal Order of Police, to hear from law enforcement experts, elected officials, and other notable leaders to gain insight into the issues and current events surrounding the law enforcement community. Each episode will leave you with a better understanding of what law enforcement officers face daily. Together, we can rebuild the trust between police officers and the communities they serve.
