Report: Police have made 1,600 arrests at Mesa schools since 2009

MESA - A report compiled by the Mesa Police Department shows officers made nearly 1,600 arrests in the past few years at junior and high schools in the Mesa School District.

The numbers include arrests from 2009 to the first half of 2012 at all of the district’s six high schools and 15 junior high schools.

According to police records, from 2009 to 2011, police made arrested nearly 700 people at the high schools.

Each year the number of arrests went up.

Drug offenses were the most common reason officers took someone into custody. Other reasons included things like vandalism, assault, and trespassing.

A school district spokesperson, Helen Hollands, said more than 27,000 students go to junior and high school and pointed out the majority of arrests were for non-violent crimes.

The arrests include students and adults.