09/01/2007
EW school police program temporarily suspended
By Kory Loucks , Journal Inquirer
EAST WINDSOR - The Board of Education learned Thursday it would be loosing the school system's police officer temporarily due to personnel issues not financial issues.
"We are down five officers out of 25," police Captain Roger T. Hart said, adding they have to use all the resources they have until they can return to their regular staffing numbers."It has nothing to do with funding," Hart said Friday. "It has only to do with the lack of one position.
The Police Department lost funding for one officer due to budget cuts this year, and also has another officer retiring in October, and another on medical leave, and one on light duty, he said."We are temporarily suspending this position until we can replenish our staff level," Hart said.
The "COPS in school" program is a federally funded position through the federal Justice Department's office of community-oriented policing services, Hart said. There is $20,000 remaining out of the original $150,000 grant.
The captain said he has been in contact with the grant coordinator and during the interim they will not be using any of the funding. Part of the town's agreement with the program requires the department to continue the program for one year after the funding has ended, which it fully intends to do, Hart said.
"We will continue this program once our staff levels are back to where we need them to be," Hart said, adding, "The chief, myself, and Police Commission are all 100 percent behind this program, just a staff issue at this time."
Hart said the department applied for the grant in 2003, and funding was available in March 2004. Marisol Flores the school police officer, started in the position during the 2005-06 school year. Flores has a good rapport with the High School and Middle School principals and students, Hart said, noting that she would preempt issues before they got out of hand or became problems.
Having the officer at the schools also "helps the kids not be afraid of the police," School Superintendent Timothy S. Howes said. "It is good to have."
In other news, the Board of Education unanimously approved $1,500 for transportation of the football team to and from Stafford Springs. There are currently 15 East Windsor students who play on the Stafford Springs football team, Board of Education member William Raber said.
"It is a drop in the bucket compared to what we spend on other teams," Board of Education member Judith Rajala said of the transportation costs.
"It is a positive thing to do and it is great for the kids," Joann Burnham Kubick agreed, adding it is also good to work together with other districts.
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