Laserfiche WebLink
COflwr.n MSETIN3 <br />REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION NOV a 1999i <br />CITY OF ORONO <br />Date: October 27,1999 <br />Item No: / <br />Department Approval: <br />Name: <br />Title: <br />Gary Cheswick <br />Chief of Police <br />Administrator Reviewed: Agenda Section: <br />Item Description: COPS in School Grant <br />Exhibits:None <br />DISCUSSION <br />On September 1, 1999, the U.S. Department of Justice awarded the City of Orono a $123,000.00 <br />"Cops in School" grant that provides funding for a police officer to work within the school <br />district. Because of receni concern's regarding violence in the school, the request for financial <br />assistance was offered at an opportune time. <br />For the last several years, the Police Department has assigned an officer to the schools on a <br />limited basis with partial funding of $18,300.00 allotted from the District. This funding provides <br />for an officer to work with the school two days a week from September through May. In <br />addition, this same officer teaches DARE January through June. These activities total <br />approximately 40 hours a week in school related policing. <br />We have found that the officers not only provided a presence but, in addition, have helped in <br />response to the increase in police/school reported activities that have had to be addressed within <br />Orono High School. Middle School, Schumann Elementary School, Orono Student Center, with <br />occasional visits to the Orono Primary School. This will now include the new Middle School. <br />By providing a full-time position, we hope with the increased presence, to enhance the safety <br />within the schools. If Council accepts the award, the police department will have the ability to <br />hire an additional officer to replace the school liaison officer who is currently removed from his <br />patrol duties. The Department's long range goals project that there will be a need for increasing <br />personnel over the next $ years. With this in mind, it became clear that the benefit from this <br />grant would not onlv be in juvenile inter\’ention but in increase of police personnel, making it a <br />cost effective approach to providing for additional patrol and increased enforcement capabilities.