The union representing 425 Philadelphia school police officers blasted the district yesterday for leaving 26 of its 267 schools without a permanently assigned officer. The union alleged in a news release that the schools are "unprotected." "Uniformed, full-time, trained and sworn police protect kids," said Michael Lodise, president of the School Police Association of Philadelphia. "Falling short of meeting that commitment leaves kids and staff at risk." District officials disputed that the schools were not protected, but acknowledged that the district had 30 or so elementary schools that had experienced minimal disruption and had no permanently assigned officer. Those schools are being covered by roving teams of officers who stop in at the schools daily and walk the halls, said James Golden, the district's chief safety executive.
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