Red Deer County has come out in support of a new school resource officer (SRO) for several area schools, including Olds High School, starting in the fall of 2014.
During the May 6 county council meeting, councillors voted unanimously to support the officer position for Bowden Grandview, Reed Ranch, Olds Elementary, Deer Meadow and Olds High schools.
The total cost of an SRO has been estimated at $144,000, says Staff Sgt. Joe Sangster of the Olds detachment.
Although funding for the position has not yet been approved by all parties, the plan is to have the Chinook's Edge School Division cover one third, or $48,000, while the remaining $96,000 would be supplied by the Town of Olds ($57,000), Town of Bowden ($9,600) and Mountain View County ($22,080), with the remaining $6,720 coming from Red Deer County.
The $6,720 funding request was approved by Red Deer County council on May 6, with the county's 2014 budget being adjusted accordingly.
The funding request for Red Deer County had initially been $10,000 but a statistical analysis indicated a seven per cent contribution based on population was more appropriate, council heard.
Red Deer County mayor Jim Wood calls the new position good for students.
“The presence of law enforcement officers in schools is a really good program,” said Wood. “It is very important that school kids build relationships and trust with the RCMP early on, and a school resource officer program does that well.”
Coun. Christine Moore supported the funding request and commented that the school resource officer is a collaborative approach between member bodies that is a proven success.
Councillors Jean Bota, Philip Massier and Connie Haulsman all voted in agreement with the funding request.
“I was in Elnora recently and drove by the school,” said Wood. “There was a police car in front of the school and as I looked closer, the officer was in the schoolyard playing soccer with the students.
“Relationship building like that works and those kids probably went home and told their parents they played soccer with a policeman. As a county, we are pleased to be supportive of an officer in Olds and Bowden. We support a Three Hills officer, Innisfail has one, and now Olds and Bowden will too.”
The future SRO is budgeted for a 40-hour workweek.
The funding approval came during National Police Week, May 11 to 17.
"The presence of law enforcement officers in schools is a really good program," Jim WoodRed Deer County mayor
