Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller, state Sen. Pete Miller want more cops in Indiana schools
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller and state Sen. Pete Miller, R-Avon, Thursday said they believed more cops — called school resource officers — in schools will keep them more safe and proposed a bill aimed at making that happen. / Star 2012 file photo
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller and state Sen. Pete Miller, R-Avon, Thursday said they believed more cops — called school resource officers — in schools will keep them more safe and proposed a bill aimed at making that happen.
“It’s particularly important that these positions be expanded in light of the tragedy in Connecticut,” Zoeller said. “There could at least be an argument made that not having a school resource officer could make a school a softer target.”
The bill would set aside $10 million in state money and allow public schools to apply for matching grants to hire officers to work in schools.
School safety, Zoeller said, is likely to get a lot of attention in the upcoming legislative session. Several lawmakers have spoken to him about bills they are working on to address the safety of school children. But this bill, he said, was already in the works.
Zoeller’s office surveyed more than 1,100 parents, teachers, school administrators and police officers around the state about school safety and the benefits or concerns about officers in schools. He estimates between a quarter and a third of all schools have officers assigned to campus.
The survey showed wide satisfaction with the work of the officers, both in law enforcement and in other roles at schools, including mentoring and educational instruction.
The bill would define the duties of a school resource officer, which vary from school-to-school, as focused on assuring schools have a safety plan, enforcing school rules, connecting with local law enforcement, emphasizing a reduction in bullying and mentoring and educating students when needed.
It has support from the incoming state Superintendent for Public Instruction, Glenda Ritz, who said in a statement that she believed the bill would help ensure safer schools.
If enacted, the bill would require officers to be trained through a police academy and submit to an annual review.
Written By: Associated Press
Posted On: http://www.indystar.com/viewart/20130103/NEWS/130103025/Officials-call-10M-pay-police-Indiana-schools
