Police chief outlines school resource officer staffing and duties; council raises traffic concerns at Rosa Parks

Middletown Police Chief Nelson on Sept. 16 briefed City Council on the School Resource Officer program, describing how the department selects SROs, current assignments at district schools and the additional duties those officers perform.

Nelson said the selection process includes internal notices, interviews with current SROs and, sometimes, school officials. He provided 2025 enrollment numbers for the district: about 1,000 high school students, 1,388 junior-high students and 2,793 elementary students. Nelson said two SROs are assigned to the high school, an officer covers the junior high and other officers are assigned to elementary schools. He described duties that include checking doors and windows, staffing school events, running a junior police academy, and organizing a well-received “safety town” for children.

Council members asked whether additional officers staff football games and other sports events; Nelson said extra-duty details are funded by the schools and are covered by officers who sign up for those shifts. The chief said SROs also cover school dances and other events so that street patrol officers are not diverted from normal duties.

Council Member Horn raised concerns about traffic at Rosa Parks Elementary and asked whether officers can issue tickets or otherwise manage congestion. Nelson said Officer Maxwell had deployed speed-monitoring boxes in front of the school and that officers use traffic-control measures such as directing flow and restricting turns to reduce congestion.

Council praised SROs’ community role. Council Member Carter said she has consistently heard positive feedback about the officers’ work. Nelson emphasized that the SRO position “takes a special kind of person” and that the officers assigned to Middletown schools have received strong community reviews.