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RBQUBST POR COURCIL RCTIOB <br />0%T8: February <br />XTDC VO 10 <br />Departaeat Approval: . <br />■aaet Steve Sullivan A <br />Title: Police Chief <br />Adain. Reviewed:J^enda Section: <br />City Adnin. <br />Report <br />itea Description: <br />Police Liaison Prograa <br />'•r <br />Exhibits: Letter from Melanie DeLuca <br />BAgiiflrgwad <br />The Orono School District wants to contract with the Orono Police <br />Department to provide a liaison officer. They are willing to pay <br />for the service and understand we have no money budgeted to <br />supplement what funds they have allocated. I have attached a <br />letter from Ms. Melanie DeLuca which outlines the background in <br />this proposal and identifies several areas in which a liaison <br />officer could be used t^* benefit the students. <br />There are also memy benefits to the police department. With this <br />positive interaction with the students, I believe some juvenile <br />crime would be prevented by changing the attitudes of the **at <br />risk" students. Initially, there might be an increase of <br />reported crime because an officer will be more available to <br />receive spontaneous reports from students and staff. But, in the <br />long term, I truly believe a good liaison program will make the <br />school and our community a better place to live. <br />Many of the areas identified by the school staff as p^ sible uses <br />of a police liaison officer are already being done by oro..o <br />police officers on an occasional basis. We already assist social <br />workers and assistance teams, attempt to build a rapport with the <br />students by chaperoning various activities, and try to prevent <br />trouble by meeting with students to quell rumors. We also do <br />classroom presentations when requested and meet with parent <br />groups to educate and to inform them. <br />One benefit of this school liaison progreun proposal is that the <br />school is willing, emd eager, to pay for us to do these things on <br />a more regular basis which should make our efforts even more <br />effective. This is a great opportunity to further our <br />partnership with the school to make Orono a better and safer <br />place for our children to grow up. <br />Requested Action <br />Authorize Police Chief to develop a police liaison program with <br />the Orono School District.