July 24,2025
RED FM News Desk
The controversial School Liaison Officer (SLO) program returned to the spotlight at Vancouver City Council on Wednesday as a new motion called for an additional review.
However, the motion was defeated, with the ruling ABC Party arguing that a review is already in progress.
Councillor Peter Meiszner of the ABC Party said he opposed the motion because initiating another review would be redundant.
“There is a need for a review, and one is currently underway,” Meiszner said, noting that the Vancouver School Board has already commissioned an independent third-party review of the SLO program.
The program, which places police officers in schools, was reinstated in 2023 after being discontinued in 2021 following concerns raised by Indigenous and Black communities about feeling unsafe. The new motion, introduced by the Racial and Ethno-Cultural Equity Advisory Committee, called for a separate independent review, arguing that the current SLO program lacks sufficient safeguards to build student trust and ensure safety.
Committee Chair Steph Kallstrom expressed deep disappointment over the council’s decision.
“There’s been no clear evidence provided on anti-racism training, decolonization efforts, or trauma-informed practices,” said Kallstrom.
Community members echoed those concerns. Sadie Kuehn, former co-chair of the African Descent Advisory Committee, said she was disheartened that these issues continue to go unaddressed.
While some parents support the current structure of the program, the Vancouver District Parent Advisory Council stated it would have welcomed an additional review. The Vancouver School Board says its ongoing internal review will continue, with findings expected to be released in the fall.
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