Baltimore schools Police Chief Marshall “Toby” Goodwin considers the city’s 80,000 students his own children. And he knows how hard it is for those who struggle with broken families.

“My mother worked three jobs to raise two kids with no father,” Goodwin said, tears filling his eyes. “I understand what it takes to raise a kid. When you show kids love in Baltimore City, you’ll be amazed how you can turn them around. If you give kids an opportunity along the way, they won’t forget you.”

A native of West Baltimore’s Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood and a graduate of Edmondson High School, Goodwin, 51, has served as an officer for both the school police and the city sheriff’s office and as an assistant public safety director for Baltimore City Community College. The former state delegate took over as head of the city’s school police in August 2007.

Q It’s been a tough first year for you, with school fights, arsons and students assaulting teachers. How do you handle it?

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A Each morning before I leave home, I say a prayer. I pray for my kids, because these 80,000 kids are my kids. I believe wholeheartedly that if we begin to redevelop the family, we can begin to offset some of the problems in our city schools.

What we have today are generations of 15-year intervals, where the student is 15, the mother is 30, the grandmother is 45 and the great-grandmother is 60. And that in itself shows [a lack of] development and maturity. If you redevelop the child, you redevelop the home, you redevelop the community and you redevelop the city. Unfortunately, we have an element in our city right now that is causing disruptive behavior, which causes negative publicity for our school system. Fortunately, we have an excellent partnership with Police Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld and the city police. We have a watch center downtown at city police headquarters, where city police, Maryland Transit Administration police and school police monitor cameras and radios from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. to de-escalate anything from spilling over from the school to the community.

Q You served as a school police officer in the 1970s. How does it compare with today?

A Back then, you had mild things like kids hooking school, not the level of disruption we have today. It really is a difference of night and day. Kids back then had more parental involvement. Parents were engaged, PTAs were strong, and there were a lot of businesses supporting schools with extracurricular activities. Today it’s a struggle. Right now my main focus has been for my staff to become a part of the school community.

Q How can you accomplish that?

A You have to step out of the box. There was a fight in a high school my second week on the job, and the building was locked down. It was a Friday, so I asked to see the football team. I told them, “I’m brand-new but I’m from the city. I need your help. When I was growing up, the athletes were the most recognizable individuals. Today’s game day, you’re wearing your uniforms. I need you to be my peacemakers in this building. Because ultimately, if we continue to have these disruptions, we can lose our athletics.” So we engaged in a real good heart-to-heart, and the young men were very appreciative. I met them when they got off the bus at Poly, where the game was played, and I thanked them for listening. I did that at three schools. It’s amazing when you engage in conversation with young people. They respect you.

Q You have 120 officers for 193 schools. Is that enough?

A We are stretched thin. We are doing the best we can to maintain order. Could we use another 100 officers? Absolutely. That would certainly enhance our ability to respond to calls, which have increased. Now elementary schools are calling just as much as middle schools and high schools. We’ve seen a 25 to 30 percent increase in calls, especially at K-8 schools.

Q What’s your biggest priority?

A The gang issue. We are working very closely with Baltimore City police and the Department of Juvenile Justice on removing those individuals from our population ... so the kids who really want to learn can get an education and not fear being assaulted or having their cell phones snatched.

Q What keeps you up at night?

A When a child is missing. I toss and turn until I hear that phone ring, or I walk in the neighborhoods looking. I won’t sleep because one of my children is missing.

Q What about the assaults on teachers?

A That’s pretty devastating. I’m just wondering where it’s coming from and why it’s happening. The staff and students need to be coming together for professional training. We are seeing a different culture of student. If you are not taught at home to be respectful, you’re not going to go to school and be respectful to Miss Jones.

Q What works?

A You have to learn how to talk to young people. You can’t be overly negative. Even most of the disruptive students will talk to you. All these fights, altercations and assaults are for one reason: The kids are missing something, and it’s L-O-V-E.  I know we have to lock kids up for violating the law, but at the same time, there is a human side to it. And I instill upon my staff to get involved in the schools. We have officers who are football, basketball and softball coaches. I’m amazed at how many kids have come back to tell me, “Thank you. You saved me.”

kvolkmann@baltimoreexaminer.com