Celina one step closer to police officer in school

CELINA - Celina city schools may have a school resource officer on campus next fall.

Celina City Council members at a Monday evening committee meeting discussed adding a resource officer position at Celina High School after superintendent Ken Schmiesing reportedly approached Celina Police Chief Tom Wale about the possibility.

Wale said he and Schmiesing have casually discussed the subject off and on for a few years, but the school has not had funding available. Wale said Schmiesing approached him a few weeks ago after the district received a federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund grant which could be used to cover the costs of a school resource officer.

Grant funding would be available through 2024, Wale said. He estimated it would cost about $80,000 per year for a school resource officer, including salary and benefits. The police department also likely would need to front $7,000-$10,000 for equipment.

The school would cover most of the costs, Wale continued, and the officer would primarily be stationed at the high school. Wale said a seasoned officer already on the force would likely be tapped for the position.

The department would then hire another officer to replace the officer stationed at the school. The school resource officer would respond to outside emergencies as necessary and help with other official tasks during the summer break period, such as assistance with festivals and parades.

"With the increase of events in the past 15-20 years in schools, it's been pretty scary," Wale said of school-related violence. "And I know there's a segment of teachers that had pushed a couple of years ago that wanted (a school resource officer) because they felt the need for security."

Wale said having a school resource officer on hand would be mutually beneficial for both the school district and the police department. The school district would get additional security and peace of mind by having an officer onsite, and the police department would benefit from positive community relations with staff and students.

Having a school resource officer on the premises would give students the chance to have their first experience with a police officer be positive, rather than negative if they get in trouble, Wale said. He said he hopes students would feel comfortable confiding in the officer or turning to the officer for help if needed.

Council member June Scott noted the school district previously had a school resource officer for a few years, also through a grant, and it worked well.

Another council member, Eric Baltzell, said his business works with several schools that have school resource officers. He noted a school district in Mansfield with a similar number of students recently added a school resource officer to its staff and said it's been a big benefit.

Council members agreed the matter should be looked into further, and mayor Jeff Hazel said he hoped to have an officer in the school district by this fall.