www.popcenter.org/library/awards/goldstein/2011/11-57.pdf
Miller Park Center Project- Merging POP with the Schools and the Mental Health Community
In August 2009, the Lee’s Summit, MO School District opened a K-12 school for emotionally
disturbed students. On average, there are 15-20 students enrolled in the school. This building was two
stories and also housed some offices on the second floor. The school had the entire first floor. This
school was the last chance for many of the students to receive their education in the formal school
setting while still living at home, instead of being sent to a group home to live and receive schooling
away from their family. In addition, based upon the type of school, Miller Park Center has a no
suspension rule. They will not suspend a student, but will attempt to get them back on track by working
through the problems on scene.
Before the school opened, no one had alerted the Patrol Officers, and immediately we started
receiving calls for service in which officers were dealing with juveniles with a history of mental illness. A
lot of them were either disturbances, property damage or assault calls. The (then) Director of the
School would typically refuse to prosecute, leaving officers to wonder why the call for service had been
placed. It became obvious something needed to change.
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