After a 2022-2023 school year without a School Resource Officer due to a shortage of police officers in the College Place Police Department, College Place Public Schools welcomed Officer Andrew Schild as the new School Resource Officer (SRO) in the district. Officer Schild will support district schools Davis Elementary, Sager Middle, and College Place High School with a regular police presence. The role of the SRO has changed over time, but safety and security through prevention, patrol, and intervention is still the paramount focus.
During the year hiatus of the program, CPPS added a position of Campus Support at Sager Middle and College Place High School that was intended to be a stopgap for the loss of the SRO program. The Campus Support position added a level of security in ensuring exterior doors were closed and locked, security cameras were monitored, students gained support around bullying and harassment, and support of school safety surrounding attendance, dress code, and crisis. While the position was intended only for the 2022-2023 school year, the CPPS School Board received such positive impact on the effectiveness that it voted to continue the position, along with the CPPD SRO program, as an added layer of safety.
“Our district has continued to take the stance that we have to continue to enhance safety measures in our schools. Our schools have world-class safety technology and welcoming back the SRO position alongside our Campus Support will only make our schools safer. I am proud of our excellent working relationship with the College Place Police Department. Chief Troy Tomaras continues to make our schools a focus of safety for his department and we are grateful," stated College Place Public Schools Superintendent Jim Fry.
Officer Schild will officially begin his duties with the district Monday, September 25th.