School security: security departments: school police departments.

Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district to establish a security department under the supervision of a chief of security, or a police department under the supervision of a chief of police, and authorizes the governing board to employ personnel to enforce the law to ensure the safety of school district personnel and pupils and the security of the real and personal property of the school district. Existing law expresses the intention of the Legislature that a school district police or security department is supplementary to city and county law enforcement agencies and is not vested with general police powers. This bill would authorize the governing board of a school district to establish a school police department under the supervision of a school chief of police, and would authorize the employment of peace officers, as defined, to ensure the safety of school district personnel and pupils, and the security of the real and personal property of the school district. The bill would also express the intent of the Legislature that only a school district security department is supplementary to city and county law enforcement agencies and is not vested with general police powers.