1. Additional School Resource OfficerDepartment
REPORT:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Honorable Mayor and City Council
Frank Garner, Chief of Police
School Resource Officer Program Expansion
MEETING DATE: August 14, 2000
BACKGROUND: In 1999 the Kalispell Police Department began a School Resource
Officer Program with the help of a $125,000.00 grant provided by the United States
Department of Justice "COPS" office. The grant nearly fully funds the project for three
years. The program provides one police officer that splits his time between Flathead
High School and Kalispell Junior High.
At the time we began the program with the school district we had an understanding that
for the program to continue beyond the grant the school district would be required to fund
three-quarters of the officer's salary at the end of the grant period. The other quarter of
the officer's salary would be covered by the city. The obvious benefits to the school
include having a trained police officer dedicated to servicing the schools and the city has
benefited by having resources dedicated to the schools funded by the district. The
community has benefited directly from the quality of the program. School Resource
Officer Wade Rademacher will address the council during the workshop to better explain
the program.
This year the Police Advisory Council (PAC) explored the effectiveness of the School
Resource Officer Program (the PAC is a group of community members that works with
the Kalispell Police Department to improve communication between the department and
the community). During that exploration the PAC performed surveys of citizens, school
officials and students. The program received very high recommendations. PAC members
are available to address the council on their findings.
In addition, the PAC determined the program is likely understaffed. The PAC
recommended the department increase the School Resource Officer Program to include
one full-time officer at the High School and one full-time officer at the Junior High. The
PAC also learned there was great interest from the school district in providing an
additional officer. The school district indicated it would assist in funding the program
under the assumption the department could apply for and would be eligible for an
additional grant.
Frank Garner, Chief of Police - Jim Brown, Asst. Chief of Police - KPD phone (406) 758-7780, FAX (406) 758-7799 li
:'� ` 300 1st Ave. East, Kalispell, MT 59901 �.►�
The school district and the city should discuss what their respective positions would be
on the expansion of the program if a grant were not obtained. The "COPS" office has
frozen all new grant applications until this fall when Congress will determine if the
program will continue past its initial six -year funding cycle. It is possible that no grant
funding will be available. The parties need to discuss if they will be willing to assume
the salary costs sans grant funding.
The purpose of this workshop is to insure all parties understand the nature of the program
and the funding requirements. This will be necessary for the school district and the city
to make an intelligent decision on this project.
RECOMMENDATIONS: The City Council must decide if the expansion of the
School Resource Officer Program should be funded.
FISCAL EFFECTS The addition of one officer would result in approximately
$15,000.00 (fifteen thousand dollars) additional in annual salary costs without any grant
consideration.
ALTERNATIVES: As recommended by Council.
Respectfully submitted,
Frank Garner
Chief of Police
oo-
Chris Kukulski
City Manager