WESTMINSTER SCHOOL DISTRICT headquarters (OC Tribune photo).
The establishment of a school resource officer program with a full-time police officer goes before the Westminster School District Board of Trustees when it meets on Thursday.
Under consideration is an agreement with the Westminster Police Department to serve WSD schools within the city of Westminster. The agreement, if approved, would run for the remainder of the 2022-2023 school year and for the entire 2023-2024 school year.
The city will designate a special unit of officers within the WPD consisting of full-time police officers specially trained and selected to provide SRO service.
Typically, a school resource officer’s role consists of law enforcement, informal mentoring of students and in-person teaching.
Estimated costs of such a program are calculated at $136,618 plus overtime for a part-time SRO and $231,583 plus overtime for a full-time officer. Superintendent Gunn Marie Hansen recommends the full-time option.
The WSD is a K-8 system serving most of Westminster and parts of adjacent communities. The board meets at 7 p.m. at the district office, 14121 Cedarwood St., Westminster.
Categories: Schools
I haven’t seen the city of Westminster budget but I think people would be shocked at what percentage goes to law enforcement or public safety. When was the last time cops showed up and you felt safe? And what’s with this overtime . Agencies complain about being short staffed or over worked but look at the amount of overtime cops get. It’s the biggest scam to citizens and tax payers going. But will they take a client for a 5150 eval? No
The operative term here is, “plus overtime.” As said, that’s where officers can really cash in. All in the name of school safety.