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Chicago mayor says police should stay in schools

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is rejecting calls to remove police stationed in Chicago public schools.

At a news conference today, she said the police-in-schools program improved last year when the roles and responsibilities of officers were clarified.

“Unfortunately, we need security in our schools,” Lightfoot said. “I think we have a very good track record of this school year of making sure that CPS is in control, that officers are there for a limited purpose. I think the balance worked well.”

Lightfoot was responding to heightened calls this week to take police out of schools by youth protesting police brutality.

The young people said the school police make them feel less safe and are expensive, costing the school district $33 million this year.