Full-time police resource officer considered for District 70 schools
A full-time school resource officer could be part of back-to-school changes in Libertyville Elementary District 70.
The proposal, which has been approved by the school board, calls for a Libertyville police officer to work in the district's middle and four elementary schools. Under terms of an intergovernmental agreement, District 70 and the village would split the approximate $100,000 cost.
A similar arrangement has been in place for Libertyville High School for many years. The village board June 12 is expected to consider an agreement for a Student Resource Officer.
Libertyville police at one time had the equivalent of 1.5 officers for crime prevention/public education and to teach DARE programs at grade schools. Those functions were phased out in 2007 during the financial crisis.
The intent of a full-time resource officer is to provide security and crime prevention/public education in schools on an ongoing basis. Resource officers also would serve as educators, emergency managers and informal counselors, according to the proposal.
School Superintendent Guy Schumacher and police Chief Clint Herdegen said the SRO idea isn't new.
"The superintendent and I have been talking about it on an off for several years. It was just a matter of timing, everything seems to be lining up," Herdegen said.
"We talked about this probably in 2015," Schumacher said. "It isn't reactionary."
The decision rests with the village board. If approved, how the officer would be selected, where he or she would be based, scheduling among the schools and other duties would be determined.
After the Dec. 14, 2012 school shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, District 70 - like many districts - has upgraded security by training staff, installing video cameras at school entrances, coating windows with shatter-resistant film, and taking other measures.
"I'm really proud of the things we've done and the plans we've put in place," Schumacher said. "This (SRO) will be an offshoot."
Police also have participated in drills and continue to have a presence. Since 2014, for example, it has been standard practice for Libertyville police to stop at schools as part of routine day shift patrols.
"Part of their job is to stop by at least on a weekly basis at each school ... kind of a walk and talk," Herdegen said."
The stops familiarize officers with the school layout and staff but serve another purpose, he added.
"The other thing is everybody doesn't panic every time they see a police car in front of the school," he said.