Rolling Neighborhood Watch

A nearly hidden resource to help spot and stop trouble is in the driver’s seat of a school bus. District 11 has more than 100 drivers who are a rolling neighborhood watch on a daily basis. Each receives training from Colorado Springs Police and the district how to be the eyes and ears of the community to spot and help prevent trouble.

School District 11 Transportation Director Bill Bair told me about a recent situation where a driver didn’t hesitate to call in what was perceived to be a problem. Bair says there was a woman at an intersection on a cell phone with a baby in a stroller. Bair says she was acting erratically. The bus driver called dispatch who then called Colorado Springs Police. Officers were dispatched to the call.

Law enforcement also has access to school bus cameras. There is video rolling inside and outside of the bus.