Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams, along with Superintendent Dr. Benjamin Henry (left) and Police Commissioner Tom Carter, spoke at a press conference in city hall.
The Harrisburg Police Bureau has increased its police presence after a recent assault on a student.
City and Harrisburg School District officials at a Wednesday press conference said that there will continue to be additional police patrol around district schools, following an alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl.
“The city and the school district are collaborating closely to assess and strengthen safety measures both in our schools and in our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Wanda Williams.
On Dec. 4, police arrested I Marr Finley for raping a 12-year-old girl on Nov. 25 in Uptown Harrisburg, according to CRIMEWATCH.
In response to the incident, Williams and Police Commissioner Tom Carter said that the police bureau would continue patrolling near schools during heavily trafficked times of the day, such as the start and end of the school day.
“First and foremost, I want to express our concern and care for the student,” said Superintendent Dr. Benjamin Henry. “Safety is one of my top priorities.”
In November, the district approved a plan to hire police officers for the district and create a police station in the Harrisburg High School-John Harris campus. According to officials, the plan was formed in response to a significant increase in violent incidents in the district.
While several board members expressed concern for the possibility of creating a school-to-prison pipeline by hiring in-school officers, Henry, who was sworn in as superintendent in September, said that his top concern was safety.
“We want to make sure our babies are safe every day coming to school and going home from school,” Henry said on Wednesday.
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