5. School Resource Officer GrantlCalispell
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Department
REPORT: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Frank Garner, Chief of Police
SUBJECT: School Resource Officer Grant
MEETING DATE: October 15, 2001
BACKGROUND: In 1999 the Kalispell Police Department, in cooperation with School District 5, instituted a School Resource Officer Program that was directed
primarily at Flathead High School and Kalispell Junior High. The program is designed to
improve school security while improving the relationship between parents, schools,
students and the police. School Resource Officers act as law enforcement officers,
educators and counselors in a triad approach designed to meet the needs of the students,
parents, faculty and the community. The program was funded by a $125,000.00 "Cops In
Schools" grant from the United States Department of Justice. The initial program
continues to be funded by an inter -local agreement between the City of Kalispell and
School District 5 wherein the school district pays for about two-thirds of the officer's
salary when the grant expires next year. Prior to the agreement the city provided police
services to the schools without any expense to the school district.
In reviewing the School Resource Officer Program through the citizen Police Advisory
Council, it was determined that the program would be better served by adding one
additional officer. Currently one officer must provide service to Flathead High School
and Kalispell Junior High. There are approximately 3,400 students and faculty on the
campus of both facilities on a daily basis. Earlier this year the council was approached
by the department with the prospect of expanding the program by one officer. At a
workshop on the subject the council directed the department to seek additional funding
for the expansion. The department at the same time approached the School Board and
they expressed strong interest in expanding the program
On October 2, 2001 the United States Department of Justice Office of Community
Oriented Policing Services notified the Kalispell Police Department that the department
has been awarded $125,000.00 for one additional School Resource Officer. The money
does not require any local match and would be effective immediately following formal
action by the council to accept the grant. We have one officer available on our hiring list
that is currently certified as an officer in another department that could begin work
shortly after notification. The SRO position would be filled by Officer Jim Wardensky
Q0 Frank Gamer, Chief of Police • Jim Brown, Asst. Chief of Police • KPD phone (406) 758-7780, FAX (406) 758-7799 ��
300 1st Ave. East, Kalispell, MT 59901 tPOLM�
who has received special training as a School Resource Officer. The new officer would
fill Officer Wardensky's position in patrol. With this addition one officer would be
assigned to the high school and would be assigned to the junior high. Both officers
would be utilized to cover shifts or assist in investigations in the summer months when
not assigned to the schools.
The grant would fund all salary and benefits for the officer for almost three years. The
program would be continued after the grant expires with the same inter -local agreement
between the city and the school district that is currently in place. No budget amendment
is necessary as the department added the new grant to the current fiscal year budget in
anticipation of an award
RECOMMENDATIONS: I recommend that the council accept the grant from the
United States Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services in
the amount of $125,000.00 for the purpose of adding one School Resource Officer,
primarily assigned to Kalispell Junior High School.
FISCAL EFFECTS: $125,000.00 additional grant funds.
ALTERNATIVES: As recommended by Council.
Respectfully submitted,
- J Ya4e,
Frank arner
Chief of Police
Chris Kukulski
City Manager