Truancy patrols are back in the City of Erie. They kicked off today, concentrating on students skipping classes at Strong Vincent High School.
Erie County Detective Mark Rosenthal , along with a couple of Erie Police officers this morning cruised the streets on the west side. While we were along, they found a couple of suspended students and couple of drop-outs.
The patrols, funded with a $10,000 federal grant are expected to continue through November.
Rosenthal said, "It is not only about picking up these kids and taking them back to the school they should be attending. It is about deterring daytime thefts and burglaries in the neighborhood."
Counselors will work with truant students. In 2011, the special patrols picked up about 300 kids who were skipping school.