4/23/13 - The City of Howell may be forced to cut off its share of funding for the dedicated police officer assigned to Howell Public Schools. The city and the district have shared the cost of the school resource officer for years. School Board President Mike Witt and Superintendent Ron Wilson met with city officials recently and found out the cityâs portion of the funding might be eliminated due to budget cuts. Wilson told the board at its regular meeting last night that he would be proposing a plan to bring the service in-house, possibly by hiring a retired officer to fill the position this fall. He tells WHMI that the SRO performs a vital service to the district. A specific officer assigned to schools has knowledge of school layout and procedure that would not be as available or familiar to ordinary police officers, as well as keys to buildings, that would allow for a quicker and more effective response to possible threats. The current officer stays in the district during school hours to help with investigations and handle problems. He can even write the students tickets if they are caught with drugs, alcohol, or other contraband. He says he will draft the solution and bring it before the board for their approval at its May meeting. The district currently contributes about $43,000 to the cost of the SRO. (TD)
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