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Orange Park wants to offer School Resource Officers

Wesley LeBlanc
Posted 5/2/18

ORANGE PARK – For Orange Park Town Council, there is no question about whether or not the town’s police officers should act as Student Resource Officers for Orange Park schools.

During the …

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Orange Park wants to offer School Resource Officers


Posted

ORANGE PARK – For Orange Park Town Council, there is no question about whether or not the town’s police officers should act as Student Resource Officers for Orange Park schools.

During the final moments of its May 1 council meeting, Town Manager Sarah Campbell mentioned that preliminary discussions with the Clay County School Board have been held regarding Orange Park’s potential involvement. According to Campbell, the discussion centered around municipal officers acting as SROs in three schools within town limits – Orange Park Elementary, Grove Park Elementary and Orange Park Junior High. Campbell said that regardless of how the council feels, the decision will be made at the school board’s discretion.

“It’s really at the school board’s discretion whether they would like to enter an agreement with the municipalities to provide this service,” Campbell said. “They have mentioned that there could be some cost sharing – it would not be 100 percent cost sharing but a portion of this could potentially be reimbursed.”

Before handing the discussion over to the council, Campbell broke down the worst-case scenario costs, which would mean 100 percent funding by the town, and how that would play out over six years.

The first year would be the most expensive with a grand total of $288,730. Broken down, $124,882 of that cost goes towards paying for personnel with another $36,348 going towards operating costs. In the first year, there is also a $127,500 cost for capital. In year two, the grant total decreases to $149,395. There is no capital cost in year two or any of the following years. There is, however a slight increase in personnel costs each year and in year six, an increase in operating costs. Still though, the grand total for year six is $191,283 which is nearly $100,000 less than the year one total.

When it was time for the council to come to a consensus, the five council members found themselves in complete agreement with each other citing absolute necessity.

“I think it’s vital that we do everything we can to keep our officers in the school system,” council member Connie Thomas said. “For one, being a social worker myself and knowing that once a relationship is built with a kid, which certainly has been at this point, that we do everything we can to keep our officers there. They have a better finger on what’s going on with the kids.”

“If the county comes in [and serves as our schools’ SROs], you add a second tier of a relationship that needs to be built between the county, the kids and the school and you’re just setting up another problem there as far as trust issues go,” Thomas continued. “If at all, we need to look at the budget and figure out how to do this. It’s in the best interest of the kids.”

Council member Alan Watt, too, agrees that municipal officers belong in the town’s schools.

“What they offer or end up doing may not work out but I think we should surely investigate it because it would be much better for us to have our own officers in the schools,” Watt said.

Council member Ron Raymond, like the rest of the council, agreed and said that if the Orange Park Police Chief is okay with this, it’s a done deal. Mayor Scott Land echoed this and stated that using town officers as SROs would enhance the small town feel and benefits of living in Orange Park.

Vice Mayor Gary Meeks, who previously served as a police officer at one point in his career, explained how years ago when he started the Officer Friendly Program in Orange Park, he believed municipal officers should be the ones protecting the town’s students and still today, he feels the same.

“I fought this battle a long time ago,” Meek said. “I’m going to tell you, it’s not even an option [to say no].”

After their discussion, the council passed a motion 5-0 to allow Campbell to proceed with discussions with Superintendent Addison Davis under the guidance that the council does indeed wish to put municipal officers in Orange Park Elementary, Grove Park Elementary and Orange Park Junior High.

In other business, council presented a proclamation recognizing former Town Clerk Joyce Bryan and all of her contributions to the town. One of the highlights of Bryan’s career was the creation of the Orange Park Fall Festival, which has grown to be a regional event in its more than 30 years. Before the proclamation was read, Campbell expressed feelings of regret that were echoed by the council in that the town did not make a proclamation like this honoring Bryan when she retired and was now playing catch up. Regardless, Bryan said she was honored and even came prepared with a speech.

“I hope that I was able to help the citizens of this town have a better life and I hope that I helped to contribute to the improvements that were made here,” Bryan read from her speech. “This has been my home for a long time and I hope it remains so.”