Fredericton police say there’s been a 63 per cent drop in service calls at the city’s two high schools following the reintroduction of dedicated police officers inside each building. School resource officers were reintroduced to Fredericton High School and Leo Hayes High School during the 2025-2026 school year and are returning this fall. During the 2025-2026 school year, Fredericton police officers responded to 76 calls for service across Fredericton High and Leo Hayes High, compared with 203 calls in 2024-2025 and 178 calls in 2023-2024. “The more important thing is the relationships we’re building, both with the students and the community itself within the school,” says Fredericton police Staff Sergeant Scott MacKenzie. “The officers build up a really good relationship with the students, and (the students will) sometimes reach out and give a heads-up that something is going to happen. That’s been a positive where we can kind of get ahead of that.” Leo Hayes High principal Kendra Frizzell said the reintroduction of school resource officers has been a “game changer.” “There were times that we were calling police several times a week,” said Frizzell during a City of Fredericton public safety committee meeting in late August. “Having an officer on site has allowed us to move from being reactive to proactive. “Something that kind of surprised me was the students who might’ve been fearful for distressful of police have come to understand that our officers are here to serve, protect, and support us.” Fredericton High principal Peter Batt said there’s been a clear reduction in the number of behavioural issues at the school, adding that “concerns of potential threats” are dealt with much faster. “Having a professional on site like that to respond when moments and minutes matter, and make good decisions, help us as a school administration team respond appropriately and reasonably, the value of that can’t be overstated,” said Batt. The program had been in place at both high schools for more than a decade, but it was eliminated in 2019 due to a shortage of officers. Reintroducing school resource officers is part of an overall municipal strategy to make the city safer. “It’s making students feel safer, it’s making teachers feel safer, it’s making parents feel safer knowing there is a law enforcement or professional presence at the schools,” said MacKenzie. “So it’s just been fantastic for us.” The two school resource officers between Fredericton High and Leo Hayes High are also expected to have a frequent presence this year at middle schools in the city, including Bliss Carman, George Street, Devon, and Nashwaaksis. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
