A top Denver police officer and the school district's security chief vowed to try to provide more officers to Bruce Randolph Middle School after listening Thursday to testimony from students about the fear they sometimes bring with them to class.

More than 200 parents and students met with school administrators, District 2 Cmdr. Rhonda Jones and Edward Ray, Denver Public Schools chief of safety and security, to discuss strategies to increase safety at the Clayton neighborhood campus.

A survey of 207 Bruce Randolph parents found that 46 percent favor a full-time police resource officer and another 27 percent support a second DPS security guard.

The 5-year-old school, which serves students in grades six through nine, is not in crisis, it was agreed, but parents and teachers want to know how they can keep delinquency and street gangs from encroaching on school grounds.

Ray said his budget plans call for a second security guard at the campus for the next school year.

Jones said she also will work to assign a full-time resource officer to the school. She cautioned, however, that funding still must be approved and any move wouldn't occur until 2008.

Since last month one bilingual officer has been attempting to visit the school daily, Jones said.

Other officers also are helping patrol the area around the campus.

Jones said she understands the fear of some families about street gang activity around the school.

"They don't want to take care of it later," Jones said of the parents.

Bruce Randolph Principal Kristin Waters said she was impressed with Thursday's turnout, noting that she recently had to take a firearm from one of her students who claimed he found it on the way to school.

"I'm glad our parents care," Waters said. "I'm so proud how this is coming together, and they're not backing down."

Thursday's meeting was organized by the Bruce Randolph Organizing Committee, a member of Metro Organizations for People, which includes more than 30 schools, churches and youth groups.

Five students, speaking from behind a large screen to protect their identities, offered testimonials about their fears when rumors abound and tensions among problem students escalate.

That dread translates to a poor learning environment, they said.

"When I see a fight at school it scares me," said one student. "What if someone pulls out a knife or a gun? It's hard to pay attention in my class when all these things are happening inside my head."

"I want to graduate, and I want my friends to graduate with me," said another student.

A third student added: "I wish for a world with no gangs and guns."

gutierrezh@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5204