Though a district goal to have two dedicated police resource officers is a longer way off, Point Pleasant Borough Schools are working to have one resource officer at the high school starting January.
Superintendent Vincent S. Smith addressed the school board Monday on one district goal to have two resource officers, saying it was not possible yet but the district is still working toward that level of police presence.
Smith did announce that given some recent hires at Point Pleasant Borough's police force and four applicants in the police academy, the school district and police chief agreed a resource officer could be stationed at Point Pleasant Borough High School.
"It looks like we will pay half the officer's salary," with the police department budget funding the other half, to be agreed upon, Smith said.
So far the plan is to have the officer aboard in January after classes resume from the winter holiday, said the superintendent.
The officer would work out of the high school but actually patrol each of the district's schools throughout the day, he said.
Right now, police make the schools stops on their patrols while working larger beats in town, but Smith said the district and police have a great relationship and he's glad for the way police "stop in, check in with principals, see what's going on" daily in the school district.
He said the school board's goal of having two resource officers in the district came shortly after the school violence of Newtown, which lead Point Pleasant and schools worldwide to address their security.
The district once did have two resource officers working in the schools, Smith said, but with recent retirements and other issues it was not possible the past year.
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