Lake Zurich High School may lose police presence

Lake Zurich High School may have to go without police presence next school year if the school resource officer is cut as recommended by the administration.

The cut would force a patrol officer to handle any incidents at the school, police say.

"Everyone in that (patrol) zone is going to lose a little bit," said Lake Zurich police Chief Patrick Finlon.

Det. Ralph Mitch, the school resource officer, said he handles incidents at the school as well as any off-site that involve students. He deals with fights, thefts, alcohol and drug-related problems, he said.

Lake Zurich Unit District 95 would save $80,000 by eliminating the position. The school district is looking at ways to cut $4 million from its budget due to a projected shortfall in revenue from property taxes. The Consumer Price Index, which dictates the increase of the property tax levy the district can request, dropped from 4.1 percent to 0.1 percent.

Mitch is in his fourth and final year at the high school. He is scheduled to rotate back to patrol after this school year.

"I've gotten a lot out of it and it's a shame that the next guy after me might not get to experience that," he said.

Mitch said he also provides juvenile counseling for the students and has built trust with many of them. Some students go to him when they need someone to talk to. He said that relationship between the police department and the high school is very important.

"There's a lot of stuff that I do up here on a day-to-day basis that there are no numbers for," Mitch said.

Board of education member Jim Hussey said that while the school resource officer is a valuable position, a lot has to be cut and the list has to be prioritized.

"We told (the administration) to protect core programs that feed test scores," Hussey said.

Finlon said the police department is working at a reduced staff level already and it will not help to lose an officer at the high school.

He added that he was the first school resource officer in 1986 and he hopes the district will find another way to save the money it needs. He said the value of having an officer in the building, establishing a rapport with the students, is priceless.

The board of education is expected to take action on personnel cuts at its meeting on March 26. A tentative budget will be approved in June and the final budget will follow in September.