ROCKLAND, Maine — The city’s police chief made a pitch Thursday night for the creation of a school resource officer, but the school board chair voiced concerns about possible aspects of the program.
Despite his concerns, Regional School Unit 13 board Chair Steve Roberts said he was not opposed to having such an officer in the school. He said Friday he expects the board to vote on the proposal at its June 2 meeting.
Rockland police Chief Bruce Boucher said the city wants to apply for a grant to pay for a school resource officer who would work in the high school and elementary schools. The Rockland City Council voted unanimously at its April 11 meeting to support applying for the grant. Councilor William Clayton said he knows parents feel more secure having an officer in the schools.
An outside evaluation of the Rockland police department last year recommended the addition of such a position.
The officer would provide education on matters such as safety for students and crime prevention. He or she also would work to identify students who are at risk of becoming juvenile delinquents and would work with them to keep them out of the criminal justice system.
“This would be a proactive approach to prevention and intervention,” the chief told the school board Thursday night.
The department has a close relationship with the community, and Boucher pointed out that the officers provide a scholarship for graduating seniors each year from money taken out of their paychecks. He said the department also is applying for a grant with a local health coalition to create summer programs such as dance, art and swimming for young people.
The grant being sought by Rockland would pay for 75 percent of the cost of the officer for three years. The local community would need to pay the remaining 25 percent and agree to keep the officer on for an additional year after the grant expires. The grant cannot exceed $125,000 over three years.
Roberts, the RSU board chair, said he wanted it made clear that the resource officer would have no role in disciplining students in school. The chief agreed, saying that was prohibited under terms of the grant. The chief said the officer would take action if he saw a violation of law but not of school rules.
The board chair said he was not opposed to the program but had concerns, remarking about videos seen across the country in which officers used excessive force against youngsters. He also said he did not want a program that created a school-to-prison pipeline. He also said he was disturbed to hear stories across the country of officers getting students to be “stool pigeons” and provide information on parents who use marijuana.
The police chief said those videos of excessive force also disturb him and that those officers actions were indefensible.
Roberts said he would like the board to review policies before approving the project. He said he expects there will be talks with the chief before the June 2 meeting.
Superintendent John McDonald said his experience with school resource officers have been positive. He said he was at Mount View when it began such a program, and he was assistant superintendent in the Belfast-area school system when it had one.
The board took no action. The chief said the deadline for applying for the grant is June 23. The grant awards will be made in October.
The officer would work as a regular officer and receive additional training during the time when schools are not in session.