HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem #05 Approval of School Resource Officers 2008-2009
AGENDA 118\11 COVffiSHEET
Meeting Date: Al.lgbl€t 1Q, 2006 S~ 2.1U08
Item# ~ 5
Contact Name:
Contact Number:
S.Goclon
X 3021
Reviewed By:
Department Director:
City Manager:
Subject: Sc
Background Summary:
The Ocoee Police Department provides one (1) DARE officer to four (4) elementary schools, one (1) School
Resource Officer to one (1) middle school, and two (2) School Resource Officers to one (1) high school, all of
which are located within the city limits of Ocoee. An annual agreement between the City and the School Board
of Orange County is required in order for the Police Department to understand its officers' responsibilities and
for the City to be reimbursed by the School Board of Orange County for a portion of the officers' salaries.
Issue:
Should the Honorable Mayor and Board of City Commissioners approve the renewal of the agreement with the
School Board of Orange County that reimburses the City for providing School Resource and DARE officers to
the public schools in Ocoee?
Recommendations
It is recommended that the Honorable Mayor and Board of City Commissioners approve the renewal of the
agreement with the School Board of Orange County that reimburses the City for providing School Resource and
DARE officers to the public schools in Ocoee.
Attachments:
SRO agreement (hyperlinked), City signature page (hyperlinked)
Financial Impact:
The agreement reimburses the City a total of $88,000 for providing the four (4) officers for the schools located
within the City limits. Foley and Lardner has reviewed and approved the agreement.
Type of Item: (please mark with an "x'1
Public Hearing
Ordinance First Reading
Ordinance Second Reading
Resolution
X. Commission Approval
Discussion & Direction
For Clerk's DeDt Use:
_ Consent Agenda
Public Hearing
Regular Agenda
>l Original Document/Contract Attached for Execution by City Clerk
Original Document/Contract Held by Department for Execution
Reviewed by City Attorney
Reviewed by Finance Dept.
Reviewed by 0
Nick P~~21-08
,,-/I
N/A
N/A
N/A
Commissioners
Gary Hood, District I
Scott Anderson, District 2
Rusty Johnson, District 3
Joel Keller, District 4
M a vor
S. Scott Vandergrift
City Manager
Robert Frank
STAFF REPORT
TO:
The Honorable Mavor and City Commissioners
FROM:
Steven J. Goclon, Interim Police Chief
DATE:
August 19, 2008
RE:
School Resource Officer Agreement 2008/2009
ISSUE
Should the Honorable Mayor and Board of City Commissioners approve the renewal of the agreement with the
School Board of Orange County that reimburses the City for providing School Resource and DARE officers to
the public schools in Ocoee?
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
The Ocoee Police Department provides one (1) DARE officer to four (4) elementary schools, one (1) School
Resource Officer to one (1) middle school, and two (2) School Resource Officers to one (1) high school, all of
which are located within the city limits of Ocoee. An annual agreement is required in order for the Police
Department to understand its officers' responsibilities and for the City to be reimbursed by the School Board of
Orange County for a portion of the officers' salaries. The school board will reimburse the City a total of
$88,000 for providing the four (4) officers. This contract is consistent with the rest of the municipalities in
Orange County that provide officers to public schools within their jurisdictions.
These officers help in the multi-faceted approach to fighting crime and making children safe. The officers'
presence helps to maintain security at the schools. The officers establish rapport with students and teach the
students at an early age to resist drugs, alcohol, crime, gangs, and violence. The officers intervene with a variety
of issues at the schools before they become more severe. The officers also handle calls for service that would
normally take an officer away from road. Patrol duties. The contract has been reviewed and approved by Foley
and Lardner.
1
AGREEMENT
between
The School Board of Orange County, Florida
and
City of Ocoee, Florida
for
The School Resource Officer Program
This agreement is entered into this 1st day of July, 2008 between the School Board of
Orange County, Florida, a public body corporate organized and existing under the Constitution
and laws of the State of Florida, hereinafter referred to as the "School Board," and the City of
Ocoee, Florida, hereinafter referred to as the "Law Enforcement Agency."
Witness that:
The School Board and Law Enforcement Agency mutually agree as follows:
1. That the School Board shall:
Provide funding as specified in Exhibit "A" attached hereto for services rendered
by Law Enforcement Agency during the term of this agreement, to Law
Enforcement Agency for providing through law enforcement officers employed by
Law Enforcement Agency, those services set forth in this agreement and the
attachments hereto. Payment to the Law Enforcement Agency shall be made in
two (2) equal installments according to the following schedule: December 31,
2007; June 30, 2008.
2. That the Law Enforcement Aaencv shall:
a. Cause to be provided for and on behalf of the School Board school
resource officers using the following manpower allocation to carry
out the duties and responsibilities listed in the attachment:
2 Officers at each High School
1 Officer at each 9th Grade Center
1 Officer at each Middle School
1 Officer for every 5 elementary schools
b. Cause to be completed and submitted to the School Board, as requested
by the School Board, all student and program records.
3. This Agreement shall remain in effect from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009
unless terminated sooner pursuant to Section 4 of this agreement
4. Termination
Either party may terminate this agreement without cause on 30 days notice in
writing to the other party; further, either party may terminate this agreement
immediately for cause, upon giving written notice to the other party, provided
such notice is accompanied by a written opinion from the general counsel of the
party terminating the agreement stating that it is not legally permissible for that
party to continue to substantially comply with this agreement.
5. Attachment:
The attachment is incorporated by reference herein and made a part hereof as
fully as if herein set forth.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have set their hands and seals in Orlando, Orange
County, Florida
BY:
THE SCHOOL BOARD OF ORANGE
COUNTY, FLORIDA
BY:
CITY OF OCOEE, FLORIDA
as its Mayor
as its Chairman
(Corporate Seal)
(Corporate Seal)
ATTEST:
ATTEST:
as its City Clerk
as Secretary and Superintendent
This document has been reviewed by
the School Board Attorney on behalf of
School Board, this day of
,2008.
BY:
General Counsel
ATTACHMENT
1. The law enforcement agency shall furnish sworn law enforcement officers to serve as
school resource officers (SROs) assigned to public schools in the Orange County school
district within the city limits of the City of Ocoee.
2. The SROs shall each meet or exceed the following qualifications:
. Minimum of two years of college and two years experience in law enforcement
operations or four years in law enforcement operations. Preferably at least one
of the years in law enforcement should be in the local jurisdiction. This
requirement may be modified by mutual agreement of the law enforcement
agency and the associate superintendent, education services.
. Certified by the State of Florida as a law enforcement officer.
3. Instructional Responsibilitv
SROs assigned to elementary schools shall teach the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance
Education) curriculum as guest presenters in fifth grade classes and in other grades as
appropriate in their assigned schools. The elementary SROs will be referred to as
DARE officers. When applicable, the DARE officer will also teach the middle school
DARE curriculum to students in designated middle school classes.
SROs assigned to middle schools may have a teaching assignment which consists of
the GREAT (Gang Resistance Education and Training) curriculum, DARE, or Exploration
of Public Service Occupations, or a combination of any of these classes. Exploration of
Public Service Occupations (locally referred to as Law Awareness) will include such
topics as:
1) justification for rules and laws
2) consequences of crime
3) juvenile and adult criminal justice systems
4) career opportunities in law enforcement
5) substance abuse prevention
6) crime and violence prevention
SROs assigned to high schools will instruct specialized short-term programs by invitation
of the principal or a member of the faculty.
Each school resource officer's work year will follow that established by the school board
for 10-month teachers. Summer school assignments of SROs will be arranged at the
discretion of their law enforcement agencies.
Any exceptions to the instructional responsibilities outlined above must be mutually
agreed upon by the school board's Senior Director of Safety, Security & Environmental
Services, Chief Operations Officer, the law enforcement agency and the individual
school principal.
4. SROs shall be certified law enforcement officers, as defined in Section 943.10(1),
Florida Statutes, who are employed by a law enforcement agency as defined in Section
943.10(4), Florida Statutes. Their powers and duties as law enforcement officers shall
continue throughout their tenure as a school resource officer.
SROs shall abide by school board policies and shall consult with and coordinate
activities through the school principal but shall remain fully responsive to the chain of
command of the law enforcement agency in all matters relating to employment.
5. Additional Duties and Responsibilities:
a. SROs will develop expertise in presenting various subjects such as
understanding the laws, the police officer, and the police mission.
b. SROs will encourage individual and small group discussions about law
enforcement related matters with students, faculty and parents.
c. SROs are not school disciplinarians. If principals believe an incident is a law
violation, they shall contact the SRO who shall then determine whether law
enforcement action is appropriate.
Suspended or disruptive students may be transported by SRO only with the
approval of the officer's supervisor.
d. SROs will attend meetings of the school's parent and faculty groups to solicit
their support and understanding of the SRO program and to promote awareness
of law enforcement functions.
e. SROs will make themselves available for conferences with students, parents,
and faculty members to assist them with problems of a law enforcement or crime
prevention nature. Nothing herein requires that confidential information obtained
pursuant to Chapter 39, Florida Statutes, be disclosed.
f. SROs will be familiar with all community agencies which offer assistance to
youths and their families such as mental health clinics, drug treatment centers,
etc. They will make referrals when appropriate.
g. SROs and the principal of the school to which they are assigned shall confer
when appropriate to develop plans and strategies to prevent and/or minimize
dangerous situations on or near the campus or involving students at school-
related activities.
h. SROs are not to be placed on the written school duty roster.
i. In the interest of maintaining a safe and orderly school environment, student and
campus supervision is of critical importance. The SRO must play a prominent
role in supervision. Student and campus supervision responsibilities of the SRO
should be coordinated with and agreed to by the SRO and the school principal.
When school is in session, the presence of the SRO on and around the school
campus is vital.
j. Should it become necessary to conduct formal police interviews on a school
campus with students or staff, the law enforcement agency's personnel shall
abide by school board policy concerning such interviews. School Board Policy
JIH contains procedures for criminal investigations involving students as
suspects or witnesses.
k. SROs shall take law enforcement action as necessary. As soon as practicable, if
not prohibited by confidentiality requirements of state law, the resource officer will
notify the principal of the school to which he/she is assigned about any law
enforcement activity undertaken on that school's campus.
At the principal's request, the officers will take appropriate law enforcement
action against intruders and unwanted guests who appear at school and school-
related functions. Whenever practicable, the officer shall advise the principal
before requesting additional enforcement assistance on campus.
I.
SROs will give assistance to other police officers in matters regarding the
resource officer's school assignment.
m.
To promote citizen awareness of law enforcement efforts, to assure the peaceful
operation of school-related programs, and to build support with students, SROs
will, whenever possible, participate in or attend school functions.
n.
SROs will reaffirm their roles as law enforcement officers by wearing their
uniforms a minimum of two days a week, unless doing so would be in appropriate
for scheduled school activities. The uniform will also be worn at events where it
will enhance the image of the officers and their ability to perform their duties.
o.
It is understood and agreed to by the parties that at no time shall a law
enforcement officer acting pursuant to this Agreement be an employee or agent
of the School Board. The law enforcement officer shall always be and remain an
employee of the Law Enforcement Agency when performing their function herein.
p.
SRO's are required to be absent from campus from time to time to attend
training, to appear in court and to perform certain administrative functions
required by their position with the Ocoee Police Department. The officer's
supervisor will approve all such absences and ensure that the principal is
informed, in advance.
q.
Actively support the OCPS Early Truancy Intervention Program (ETI) under the
direction of the school system and the State Attorney 9th Judicial Circuit of
Florida.
The City of Ocoee
2008-2009 School Year
Reimbursement for School Resources Officers
School School # Level # of Officers Amount
1. Citrus Elem. 0216 E .25 5,500
2. Ocoee Elem. 1531 E .25 5,500
3. Sprina Lake Elem. 0841 E .25 5,500
4. Thornbrook Elem. 0235 E .25 5,500
5. Westbrooke E .25 5,500
6. Ocoee Middle 0342 M 1.0 22,000
7. Ocoee H.S. 0252 H 2.0 44,000
Total 4 93,500