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Commissioners: School resource officer close

Warren County and the Warren County School District are close to an agreement that would result in a Sheriff’s deputy serving as a School Resource Officer.

The Warren County Commissioners discussed the concept during Wednesday’s meeting.

Commissioner Cindy Morrison said that an agreement was before them for consideration that has been reviewed by their legal counsel and discussed with the Sheriff’s Office and the WCSD.

Sheriff Ken Klakamp said he has had discussions with the WCSD and the Warren County District Attorneys Office.

“There were some issues that have been hashed out,” Klakamp said. “There is training for the School Resource Officer.”

Both Morrison and Commissioner Jeff Eggleston suggested that the officer should complete the training before going into the schools.

Klakamp explained that the program would take a deputy around to different schools in the WCSD. He said there would be a fee to the school district for both the wages of the deputy and the use of a marked vehicle.

According to the National Association of School Resource Officers, an SRO is intended to be equal parts “teacher, informal counselor and law enforcement officer,” leading by example and promoting “a positive image of law enforcement to school children and school communities.”

He said that the agreement would place a deputy in WCSD schools at a maximum of 25 hours per week.

Morrison said she was concerned about potential liability issues but Klakamp noted that the Erie County Sheriff’s Office has three school resource officers and Cumberland Co. has recently initiated a program, as well.

Klakamp said that one deputy would be assigned to the role on a regular basis with other officers designated to serve if the district asks for additional service.

“They (WCSD) want someone on a continuous basis which I think is wise,” Klakamp added. He said that the district will be allocating a certain amount of money to this program and that his department will provide the service up to that amount.

There was some ambiguity, however, about the rate for reimbursement so the agreement was tabled to a future meeting.

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