First Posted: 3/26/2015
LIMA — Lima schools will hire nine school resource officers for the 2015-‘16 school year, one for each building.
As sworn members of the Lime Police Department Auxiliary Unit, the officers will be officially employed by the school district, present at their respective schools during the day and 30 minutes before and after the school day. The officers will be armed.
The initiative serves as an emphasis on school and student safety, a renewing focus in the region. The Elida school board, for example, just employed three resource officers for each of its schools March 17, a week before the high school received a shooting threat. The threat turned out to be a prank.
The decision to bring in resource officers is also an extension of the Lima Police’s renewed focus on Community Oriented Policing efforts and building relationship with residents, including students.
Last year, Lima schools received a federal grant to employ one resource officer, Nate Garlock, who will continue working with the district and serve as liaison between the district and police while overseeing the new officers. The new positions will be funded by the general fund and a portion of funds from the food services department, since the officers will replace existing supervisors during lunch periods. Lima Police will also offer resources. The resource officers will be paid about $15 an hour.
“This will help streamline things,” he said. “One officer for nine buildings became hectic. Now someone will always be here to help out. It puts one more person in those buildings.”
Garlock has served as a positive entity in schools, Superintendent Jill Ackerman said. He also initiated this year’s new Red to Blue program, designed to introduce students to criminal justice careers.
“We have seen in just one school year the positive impact one resource officer can have in our schools,” she said. “Imagine how great of an impact we can have on safety issues and how much bonding can happen between officers and students with one in each of our buildings.”
The district’s school board approved the initiative Thursday night and will begin interviewing candidates this summer. Lima Police representatives will also be involved with the interview process.
