Troy City, schools consider resource officer

The Troy City Council discussed during its monthly, non-voting work meeting Wednesday the possibility of working with Troy Public Schools to allow the schools to have a School Resource Officer.

Under a draft Memorandum of Agreement, the school and city would share some costs for the additional officer, who would officially be a member of the Troy Police Department.

During the school year, the SRO would have an office at the school, where the SRO would serve in not just a reactionary capacity, but also work to prevent any problems that could involve criminal activity among or around students or threaten their safety.

The SRO would also help to enforce attendance policies under the proposed agreement, in addition to providing education to students and staff and assisting in developing policies. The SRO would be expected to foster positive relationships in the school with both faculty and students.

When school is out over the summer, the officer would serve with the Troy Police Department, and during the summer could help reduce current overtime costs for the city, Troy Police Chief Katie Davis said. With the current roster of officers, covering time off, sick leave or absence for training can result in overtime for the officer providing the coverage.

Under the draft memorandum, the school and city would each cover the payroll and benefit expenses for the officer while based on the number of hours spent working for each entity.

Troy Schools Superintendent Jacob Francom said that the school would be willing to work with the city on related costs, such as uniforms and equipment. The school would also cover costs to have the officer receive the training needed to serve in the position.

The schools would also pay for office equipment for the SRO, and provide the officer with administrative support up to the degree allowed by law, under the memorandum.

The memorandum also allows for the officer to be called out by the city on short notice for “major emergencies,” and acknowledges the officer may have to appear in conferences, court hearings and “at other related functions.”

Troy Mayor Dallas Carr said that the cost he arrived at for the city would come to around $30,000 per year.

Carr mentioned a grant he had told Francom about, and Francom responded that he had applied for that grant, though he was uncertain of the chances of Troy receiving it.

“It’s a great idea, but we have to make the numbers work,” said Council Member TJ Boswell.

Though the council was unable to hold a vote at Wednesday’s meeting, all members expressed support for having an officer if city revenue can support it.

After discussion of the cost and current budget situation for Troy, Francom agreed to try to attend the council’s next scheduled budget meeting for further discussion, which will be held in the Mayor’s Office at 4 p.m. on Monday.

The Council’s next regular meeting, at which they could vote on the memorandum if it is on the as-yet unpublished agenda, is Wednesday, Aug. 15.