Ind. Legislators Want More Police in Schools
LOGANSPORT, Ind. — Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller has offered his support for a bill that would potentially put more police officers in schools.
The legislation, filed by Sen. Pete Miller (R-Ind.), would set aside $10 million for the Indiana Safe School Fund that could be leveraged by local school corporations to hire trained law enforcement officers as school resource officers (SROs). If approved, the bill would allow public schools to apply for matching grants to hire officers to work in schools, Pharos-Tribune reports.
During a press conference on Jan. 3, Zoeller and Miller stated that they began working on the bill before the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
Zoeller estimated that one-quarter to one-third of Indiana’s schools have police officers serving as SROs. Miller recognized that the legislation would not provide enough money to put a police officer in every school, but noted that it is a first step to making school safer.
Superintendent for Public Instruction Glenda Ritz has also supported the bill, as well as the Indiana Association of Police Chiefs.
Related Articles:
- CS Survey Part 1: 46% of Campus Public Safety Departments Understaffed
- 2011 Salary Survey & Industry Census Results: K-12 Schools & School Districts
- Columbine 10 Years Later: The State of School Safety Today
If you appreciated this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!
Related Content
Leading in Turbulent Times: Effective Campus Public Safety Leadership for the 21st Century
This new webcast will discuss how campus public safety leaders can effectively incorporate Clery Act, Title IX, customer service, “helicopter” parents, emergency notification, town-gown relationships, brand management, Greek Life, student recruitment, faculty, and more into their roles and develop the necessary skills to successfully lead their departments. Register today to attend this free webcast!
