Controversial school police program could return to Mississauga, Brampton

A program that places uniformed police officers in high schools across Mississauga and Brampton could be making a return.

Peel Regional Police say they are in discussions with both the Peel District School Board and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board about reviving the School Resource Officer (SRO) program, which was abruptly cancelled in 2020.

Police withdrew from the program six years ago following a review that found it negatively affected racialized students, including Black and Indigenous youth, who reported feeling less safe. The decision came amid pressure from both school boards and community groups calling for the removal of officers from schools after more than two decades.

Now, Peel police say both boards have formally reached out to explore bringing the program back.

The renewed discussions follow the passage of Ontario’s Bill 33, the Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025, which requires school boards to work with local police services to implement SRO programs.

When the legislation was introduced last November, Premier Doug Ford said participation would ultimately be up to individual police services. At the time, Peel police declined to comment.

Since then, governance of both school boards has shifted, with provincially appointed supervisors replacing elected trustees who had supported ending the SRO program.

The reconsideration also comes amid reports of rising violence in Ontario schools, with the Peel District School Board recording the highest number of incidents.

READ MORE: Will police be returning to patrol Ontario schools where they are not wanted?

Speaking at a recent Peel Police Services Board meeting, Deputy Chief Mark Dapat said any potential SRO program would focus on prevention and relationship-building rather than enforcement.

“It also encourages upstream intervention to address root causes of youth crime and social disorder, and promotes relationship building between police, students and school communities,” Dapat said.

He added that while the SRO program ended in 2020, Peel police have continued youth engagement efforts, noting the importance of building strong relationships.

Dapat also cautioned that reintroducing the program would be complex, pointing to the scale of the region’s school system, which includes 420 schools and 71 high schools. While the province has indicated funding will be available, details on how police services can access those funds have not been released.

“If we were ever to move in that direction, it would require significant planning and consideration,” he said.