Spotlight on Security at Lincoln High's Back to School Night

Relationships between school police, parents and students have been tense at Lincoln High School since a highly-publicized fight at the campus on Feb. 26, 2016

A back to school event at San Diego’s Lincoln High School Monday focused on creating positive relationships between parents, students and police after a fight between students and a former campus police officer nearly tore the school apart. 

Ordinarily, back to school night is a chance for parents to meet their kids’ teachers and talk about the future of their education. However, this year at Lincoln High School, the focus was much different, with the spotlight fixed on campus security.

Parents met campus police officer Marcos Gobbi, one of the many new faces at the school this year.

“I'm trying to build a positive relationship with these students and earn their trust,” he explained.

Earlier in his career, Gobbi served as an assistant security guard at the school. For the past four years, he has worked at the San Diego Police Department’s (SDPD) Juvenile Division.

Gobbi is a graduate of San Diego State University, a father of three boys and a football coach. His family life is a draw for some parents.

“For him to come in as a parent, I feel good about that. He can have more understanding of teenagers because our kids are not different than any other kids,” Lincoln High School parent Jireh Pickett said.

The campus has been strained this year due to a highly-publicized lunchtime fight on Feb. 26 that involved two students.

San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) police Officer Bashir Abdi followed one of the students involved in the fight into a parking garage on campus where the altercation occurred and intervened.

Cell phone video shot by a student showed one of the students, a 16-year-old, on the ground in the garage after being stunned with a Taser. Five students were exposed to pepper spray during the fight. The graphic footage startled and upset many parents.

Abdi was also injured during the fight and hospitalized. An investigation was launched into the officer’s actions during the scuffle.

Many parents felt the safety of the students during the incident was compromised.

“We have to see that they [school officers] care for our kids the same way – that it is genuine – that their presence is not just negative,” parent Tammie Bryant said.

Seven months after the fight, Abdi remains out on medical leave. The students involved in the fight were disciplined in the juvenile system and allowed to return to school. In March, the SDUSD announced that none of the students involved in the fight would face expulsion.

What the incident left behind at the school are strong emotions and negative perceptions to overcome. Police, students and parents are trying to mend fences.

“They can come to my office, they can come to me whenever they have questions regarding anything,” Gobbi said of his position on campus. “I want to be a resource for them.”

Part of the event Monday night included a short stage production performed by parents, police and students involved in a criminal justice class which demonstrated the proper way to interact with police and informed students of their rights as civilians.

Contact Us