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Council, schools battling over resource officers |
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Friday, 15 August 2008 |
In what has become a contentious debate, the Bryant City Council and Bryant Superintendent Richard Aber-nathy on Thursday discussed how many school resource officers are needed at Bryant schools and how to fund them during a meeting at the Boswell Municipal Complex.
Both parties agree that more resource officers are needed to cover all schools within the large school district — and both agreed to continue meeting to hash out the details to make that possible. However, the councilmen on Thursday declined a contract offered by the Bryant school board that offered to pay a hundred percent of a nine-month salary and benefits for two resource officers.
The council strongly emphasized that it believes more resource officers are needed during this school year — seriously enough that two councilmen were prompted to put their council positions on the line.
“We know that we have a problem with SROs,” Councilman Rick Meyer said. “One SRO on campus come Monday is unacceptable. I don’t care if it costs me my position on the council, because I feel that strongly about it. I am thinking we need four or six [now] and maybe down the road maybe 10 or 12 over time. I think the money we would spend on that would be well spent.”
Abernathy agreed that more officers are needed in the future and said the school board is willing to sit down with the council and come to an agreement. In a July 21 letter addressed to Mayor Larry Mitchell, Abernathy said the school board would “entertain any proposal that might be considered by the city to increase the number of SROs.”
Abernathy said that when the proposal was completed in July, the board knew that it was not a final deal, and the board expected the council to add its input. He also said that in the past, the school has had anywhere from zero to four SROs, and that for this year “two is better than none.”
Many councilmen also expressed a problem with the proposed SRO contract from the school board that states the city would take responsibility and provide compensation if any incidents, security failures or litigation should arise.
Before adjournment, the council declined the contract from the school board, but said the Bryant Police Department would monitor the schools upon agreement on an SRO program with the Bryant School District. Councilmen also said that “in absence of a signed contract, Police Chief Tony Coffman can implement any special procedures as necessary to provide efficient and timely response to Bryant schools.”
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Razorbacks