School Resource Officer Revisited

(posted July 28)

Speedway Town Council President Bill Golay directed Town Manager John McCurtain to initiate talks with new school Superintendent Ken Hull about sharing the funding with the town for a school resource officer.

Police Chief Jeff Dine explained there is Department of Justice grant money available for three years to fund an officer to be dedicated to the schools. After three years, it would require a partnership with the school to help fund the position. Dine asked McCurtain to wait a few days until he could research the time line for applying for grants.

Police commissioner Jack Sneyd said regardless if the deadlines for the grants have passed it is important to open the lines of communications with Hull to discuss the issue.

Despite current Superintendent Andrew Wagoner's claim of no knowledge about the proposal, councilman Jeff Hartman confirmed that there was a presentation made in the past for a school resource officer.

Dine also requested a $30,000 increase for fuel from its current budget of $129,000. Dine has been able to control gas prices by utilizing Councilor Lu Hillmer's assistance with the department's ability to use the City of Indianapolis Fleet Service.

He said if an officer is patrolling nonstop he can put as much as 80 to 90 miles on per shift. He noted there is a difference between patrolling and driving. He said he would not institute tighter restriction policies about take home cars. He deferred that decision to the council to develop a policy because of other departments have take home vehicles too.

The police department submitted an estimated $4 million budget at the July 25 public hearing.

Other public safety issues were raised by Fire Chief Curtis Dean. He requested $350,000 for a new fire engine in 2008 because the reserve engine will be 20 years old next year. He noted the reserve engine will now be acting in the front line because the ladder truck has to go in for a six to eight week repair job.