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Wappinger officials commend school district for expanding school resource officer program
Summary
Town of Wappinger leaders presented a commendation to Wappinger Central School District leaders and listed school resource officers after officials said the district expanded uniformed officer presence to all 15 public schools this year and increased student mental health staffing.
Town of Wappinger leaders on Tuesday presented a commendation to Wappinger Central School District leaders and the district’s school resource officers, saying the district has expanded uniformed law enforcement presence to all 15 public schools for this school year.
Supervisor said the town “takes great pride in the partnership with the Wappinger Central School District and our superintendent, Dr. Dwight Bonk.” The supervisor added, “We consider the Wappinger Central School District a leader, not only in the town of Wappinger, not only in Dutchess County, but in the state of New York.”
Superintendent Dwight Bonk said the district’s expansion of the school resource officer program and “the continued increase in student mental health services staffing reflects the school district's ongoing commitment to providing a safe school environment.” He said, “The safety and security of our students and staff remains our top priority.”
Officials said the expansion took place over a period described in the meeting as “2 years, 3 years” and that the program now includes uniformed officers assigned to each of the district’s 15 public schools for the current school year as part of a “safe schools initiative.” Town officials presented a commendation to Superintendent Dwight Bonk and recognized the deputies and officers assigned to the schools: Sergeant Mike Riley, Sergeant Adam Gonzales, Lieutenant Bridal Petrus, Deputy John Anderson, Deputy Dana Russo, Deputy Michael Gemmell and Deputy Salvatore Detrochio.
The meeting record shows the exchange happened on the agenda item recognizing the district’s safety initiative; no ordinance, vote, contract award or budget action was reported during the recognition.
Officials also noted an increase in student mental health services staffing but did not provide numbers or funding sources during the remarks. The timeframe for the program’s expansion was described in general terms during the presentation and no formal direction or new policy was adopted at the meeting.
Town leaders held applause until all honorees were recognized and presented the commendation at the meeting’s podium. The presentation concluded without a legislative vote or an assignment to staff to change district or town policy.
