HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem #03 School Resource Officer Contract
AGENDA ITEM COVER SHEET
Meeting Date: December 19, 2006
Item # .3
Contact Name:
Contact Number:
S. Goclon
X3021
Reviewed By:
Department Director:
City Manager:
~~
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 contract (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. This is an $8,000 increase over last year's contract. Foley and Lardner has reviewed and
approved the agreement.
Type of Item: (please mark with an "x')
Public Hearing
_ Ordinance First Reading
_ Ordinance Second Reading
Resolution
--L Commission Approval
Discussion & Direction
~ 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 ( )
roval email 12-7-06 attached
N/A
N/A
N/A
City Manager
Robert Frank
Commissioners
Gary Hood, District 1
Scott Anderson, District 2
Rusty Johnson, District 3
Joel Keller, District 4
Mayor
S, Scott Vandergrift
STAFF REPORT
TO:
OImmsslOners
FROM:
Ron Reffett, Chief of Poli
DATE:
December 19, 2006
RE:
School Resource Officer Contract
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 get reimbursed by the School Board of
Orange County for a portion ofthe officers' salaries. The school board will reimburse the City a total of
$88,000 for providing the four (4) officers. This is an increase of $2,000 per officer per year over last year's
contract. 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
Message
Page 10f2
Decaul, Jaswantie
From: Palmer, Nicholas (NPalmer@foley.com]
Sent: Friday, December 08,2006 12:09 PM
To: Decaul, Jaswantie
Subject: RE: SRO Contract
From the Desk of: Nicholas N. Palmer
: FOLEY
FOLEY & LARDNER LLP
Looks fine. Just insert the standard form City signature page (a copy is attached to this email) immediately after page 2 and it will
be ready to go.
Nick
Nicholas N. Palmer
:FOLEY
Foley & l<,rtJr~r llP
Attar r1tl'j'S ,11 Ll'I'
III Norll- Orange Avenue
SUite 1800
Orlando. FL USA 32801-2386
FOLlY & LAIIONU LLP
lei 407.244.7133
Fi'tX 407.648.1743
EMilil nraIMer@kAey.coM
WF.b ....'W'II.f,1Ie. .('om
~JNFO
From: Decaul, Jaswantle [mailto:jdecaul@d.ocoee.f1.us]
sent: Thursday, December 07, 2006 4:36 PM
To: Palmer, Nicholas
SUbject: SRO Contract
Nick can you please review this again. They changed the 1st page. Thanks.
The preceding email message may be confidential or protected bytheattomey-clientprivilege. It is not intended for
transmission to, or receipt by, any unauthorized persons. If you have received this message in error, please (i) do not
read it, (ii) reply to the sender that you received the message in error, and (iii) erase or destroy the message. Legal
advice contained in the preceding message is solely for the benefit of the Foley & Lardner LLP client(s) represented by
12/1112006
--- -.3
between
-
ORIGINAL
AGREEMENTd_
The School Board of Orange County, Florida
and
City of Ocoee, Florida
for
The School Resource Officer Program
This Agreement, entered into this 1st day of July, 2006, 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 City of Ocoee,
Florida, a municipal corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of 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 the 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, 2006; June 30, 2007.
2. Not used
3. 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 formula 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 4 Elementary schools
b. Cause to be completed and submitted to the School Board, as requested by
the School Board, all student and program records.
4.
This agreement shall remain in effect from July 1, 2006, throug
unless terminated sooner pursuant to Section 5 of this agreement.
A
Not Approved
pate~'-
ru enbacher ~
ounsel
Or. nge County Public Schools
9AD210 - 10/18/2006
- -3
. .....
:"""1
4. This agreement shall remain in effect from July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2007,
unless terminated sooner pursuant to Section 4 of this agreement.
5. 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.
6. 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 set their hands and seals in Orlando, Orange County,
Florida.
CITY OF OCOEE, FLORIDA
BY:
as its Mayor
THE SCHOOL BOARD OF ORANGE
COUNTY'F~~
Bv9
as its Chairman
(Corporate Seal)
(Corporate Seal)
ATTEST:
ATTEST:
{).
as its City Clerk
as Secretary and Superintendent
,20052006.
9AD210 - 8/4/2006
- -~
- -'.
-
'<
J_ '
-
OCOEE SIGNATURE BLOCK FORM
WITHOUT NOTARY AND WITNESSES
ATTEST:
CITY OF OCOEE, FLORIDA
By:
S. Scott Vandergrift, Mayor
Beth Eikenberry, City Clerk
(SEAL)
FOR USE AND RELIANCE ONLY BY
THE CITY OF OCOEE, FLORIDA;
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND
LEGALITY this day of
,200_,
FOLEY & LARDNER LLP
APPROVED BY THE OCOEE CITY
COMMISSION AT A MEETING
HELD ON ,200_
UNDER AGENDA ITEM NO.
By:
City Attorney
ORLA_1 07255. 1
- -.3
~
-
'.
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 operations 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 Responsibility
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 associate superintendent, education services, 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.
9AD21 0 - 8/4/2006
5
-
-4
:'~
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 SROs 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 playa 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.
9AD21 0 - 8/4/2006
- -3
~
:-'''~ .
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 assignments.
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 inappropriate 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.
9AD210 - 8/4/2006
-3
:":"'"
Exhibit A
City of Ocoee Police Department
2006-07 School Year
Reimbursement for School Resource Officers
School School # level # of Officers Amount
1 Citrus Elementarv 0216 E .25 5,500.
2 Ocoee Elementarv 1531 E .25 5,500.
3 Ocoee MS 0342 M 1.0 22,000.
4 Sprinq Lake Elementarv 0841 E .25 5,500.
5 Thornebrook Elementarv 0235 # .25 5,500
6 Ocoee HS H 2.00 44,000
Total 4 88,000
9AD210 - 8/4/2006