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Carlisle council hears positive update on new school resource officer program
Summary
Officer Zarnota told the City of Carlisle council that two months into the school resource officer assignment he has built relationships across district schools, reduced calls to patrol, and spent most of his time in non‑disciplinary interactions with students and staff.
Officer Zarnota told the City of Carlisle City Council during the public forum that he has served as the district’s school resource officer for two months and that his presence has improved contact between police and schools while reducing calls to patrol.
Zarnota, a Carlisle police officer with 14 years on the force, said he spends most of his day walking school hallways and forming relationships with staff and students in an effort to keep students in class rather than suspended or expelled. "I like to think some of it is just my presence within the school, helping the kids make some better choices and ultimately keeping them in the schools instead of getting themselves suspended or expelled or anything," he said. Zarnota told council there are about 1,600 students and roughly 200 staff across the district, and that building informal rapport — sitting at lunch tables, joining gym class or playing Uno — has made students more comfortable approaching him when problems arise.
Councilmembers and the mayor thanked Zarnota for the update. Zarnota described limited calls to patrol since his assignment began and said he has been networking with peers in nearby jurisdictions and shadowing experienced officers to build resources for handling school issues. He also said he has participated in school career days and teacher in‑service activities. The public forum remained open after his remarks and then was closed without further public addresses.
