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Will County approves one additional enforcement deputy to staff new school contract; district to reimburse county
Summary
The committee approved hiring one additional enforcement deputy to fulfill a contract with School District 161 to provide a school resource officer; the district will pay roughly $193,478.40 per year for a deputy assigned seven months of the year, while hiring costs for the county are estimated at about $72,000 plus benefits.
Will County’s executive committee voted June 12 to authorize the addition of one enforcement deputy to staff a new contract policing assignment with School District 161.
Dan Jungles, representing the sheriff’s office, told the committee the office currently has 233 deputies assigned to enforcement and is short staff due to nine recent retirements, six deputies in the police academy and roughly six deputies out for medical or workers’‑comp reasons. The contract with District 161 calls for a deputy assigned to the school for a seven‑month school year; District 161 agreed to pay $193,478.40 annually for that assignment, Jungles said.
Jungles said hiring a new deputy costs the county about $72,000 in salary plus roughly $18,000 in benefits; the contract rate with the district would fully cover the county’s cost for the position. Committee members expressed support for the SRO model and for contracting opportunities that help sustain department staffing.
Board members also asked about equipment and readiness. Jungles described expanded SRO training implemented after the Parkland school shooting and confirmed SROs carry medical and protective equipment in their offices and vehicles; he said SROs qualify for firearms more frequently than other deputies as part of an enhanced training regimen. Several members asked staff to confirm that the assigned deputy will have or have access to the personal protective and medical gear the county purchased for SROs.
The committee approved the staffing increase by voice vote; the school district contract will reimburse the county at the contract rate. The motion did not change the sheriff’s base staffing table beyond authorizing the funded position.
