R2024-243 Provide Police Officers for School Security

Home Browse Search

Police Department DATE: 5/21/2024 MEMO: 24-15 TO: Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe City Council Members FROM: Tim Gleason,City Manager Shane Brandel,Chief of Police SUBJECT: httergovemmental Agreement between the City of Decatur and DPS 61 for the City to assign 5 police officers to Decatur Public Schools as School Resource Officers(School Security). SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: It is the recommendation of staff that the resolution to approved. BACKGROUND: For several decades,the Decatur Police Department has assigned officers to the Decatur Public School District 61 as school liaisons(also known as school resource officers). In 2014,DPS 61 and the City of Decatur entered into an agreement where DPS 61 would pay the city 75%of the total cost of 4 officers to be assigned to the schools during the school year. This arrangement has worked well for both parties. hi recent years,DPS 61 has sought to increase the number of school resource officers(SROs)to 5. DPD has been unable to accommodate that request due to staffing issues. Recently,DPD Administration evaluated this request again as we have been making personnel changes to better align with community needs and operational goals. During this review,DPD Administration decided that it was in the best interest of both parties that we proceed with adding the 5th SRO into the agreement,beginning in the 2024-2025 school year,which will start in August 2024. This is based on needs of the community,school district,and existing DPD resource allocations of police officers during the school year. The IGA for this agreement is essentially the same as the previous IGA,in that DPS 61 will cover 75%of the cost of the 5 officers. The only substantive difference is the number of officers increased from four to five. PRIOR COUNCIL ACTION: In December,2014,Council approved a similar agreement for 4 DPD officers to be assigned as SROs. STAFF REFERENCE: Shane Brandel,Chief of Police,217424-2745,sbrandel@decaturil.gov ATTACHMENTS: Description Type Resolution Letter Resolution Letter IGA for Additional SRO Backup Material