Buena Vista work session reviews shared SRO model, training and parent messaging

At a joint Buena Vista Board of Trustees and school board work session Aug. 12, police and school officials described a reconfigured school resource officer program that moves from a single dedicated SRO to a shared-officer model and emphasized training, communication and coordination with the school district. The change aims to let officers respond to community calls while maintaining regular school security checks; police officials said the high school accounted for a significant share of daytime calls last school year and that the department will present a partnership agreement to the boards for review. Police representatives told trustees and board members that "we have been partnering with the school district for several years now" and that calls for service at Buena Vista High School (VVHS) keep officers busy; the department reported 342 calls for service at VVHS and 18 case reports during the last school year and said roughly 20% of day-shift calls occurred at the school. Those figures were presented by the police representative during the meeting. The department described the operational change as a distributed model in which multiple officers rotate SRO duties rather than assigning a single dedicated officer. The police representative said the shift was prompted by limited patrol staffing and the need to use officers across town when incidents occur outside the school. Fraser Pomfret, introduced as the law enforcement school partnership coordinator, described training and program goals, saying the model follows a triad approach — mentorship, education and law enforcement — and that he will pursue week-long certification with the national SRO training program. Pomfret said, “I feel very honored and privileged to be in this position,” and outlined planned active‑shooter readiness, the standard response protocol exercises with staff and reunification drills. Presenters described practical safety measures the district and department have implemented: a secured campus with locked doors during school hours, routine officer walkthroughs (presenters said officers typically walk through school facilities multiple times per day when not on other calls), and color-coded hallway signage to speed first-responder navigation. The department said the district and police will continue public messaging to clarify the difference between a campus “secure” status and a full lockdown to reduce parental confusion. Discussion at the session included juvenile arrest practice and alternatives. The police representative explained that arrests of students are rare locally, that Colorado juvenile screening and court procedures apply, and that for certain low-level incidents the department can refer students to restorative‑justice programs coordinated with the district attorney rather than filing in court. No formal board vote occurred at the work session. Staff said a written partnership agreement (described in the packet) will be presented to the boards for formal consideration at a later meeting. Questions and follow-up requests at the meeting included more detail about the proposed agreement language, staffing costs and how the coordinator role will measure activities and events. Officials said the department expects roughly five school events per month where officers support school activities (athletics, parades, back-to-school events).