PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. — Leaders in Prince George’s County announced the start of the Safe Passage Project on Monday. It's a new initiative aimed at keeping students safe. Volunteers will be placed around certain schools after dismissals to deter students from engaging in any dangerous behavior.
"The areas that have historically caused challenges for students passing through safely and so we plan to put at least two Safe Passage volunteers at every area," said schoolboard member Branndon Jackson.
Deadly crashes, violence in neighborhoods and bullying are all contributing factors according to county leaders WUSA9 spoke with ahead of their announcement. The following schools are included in the pilot program launching next month:
- Largo High School
- Suitland High School
- Charles Herbert Flowers High School
- Central High School
- Bladensburg High School
- Andrew Jackson Middle School
The initiative comes after two children, ages 5 and 10, were hit and killed while walking to school in Riverdale, Maryland. Back in September, a DuVal high school student was shot and killed while walking home from school. Police say she was trying to stop a fight.
"This is important that we focus on that impact that we can do something as a community and come together and kind of make this preventative," said District Heights commissioner Anthony Tilghman.
DC implemented the Safe Passage project back in 2017. Volunteers will be trained by a Prince George’s county violence interrupter and are prohibited from engaging physically with any students.
"We’re not asking you to intervene in a physical fight we’re asking you to be a presence because sometimes we know when young people see an adult that’s all they need to know let me not do something right now because there’s someone watching," said Prince George's County councilmember Krystal Oriadha.
Click here if you would like to sign up to volunteer. Saturday, March 23rd, is the first training session. Jackson says 20 people have signed up so far, but they need around 300. Volunteers will be out in the community starting April 15.