Do school resource officers make high schools safer? Maybe.

School resource officers returned to Denver high schools this week after a nearly three-year absence, reigniting the debate whether police will make schools safer.

The Denver Police Department has assigned two armed police officers at East High School and one officer each at these 12 high schools: North, West, South, Montbello, Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Kennedy, Manual, Northfield, Denver Martin Luther King Jr. Early College and the Evie Dennis campus.

The DPD is covering the cost until the end of the school year.    

“Additionally, an officer in each police district will continue to work as a liaison to the leadership teams of middle and high schools in their respective police districts to assist with any safety concerns,” said Michael Strott,…