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St. Helens board votes to re-establish school resource officer at high school, approves IGA with city
Summary
The board approved an intergovernmental agreement with the City of St. Helens to place one school resource officer (SRO) at St. Helens High School beginning August 2025 at an annual cost of $170,000; the board and public discussed the officer's duties, hiring timeline, training and reporting responsibilities.
The St. Helens School District board voted to re-establish a school resource officer position at St. Helens High School by approving an intergovernmental agreement with the City of St. Helens and the St. Helens Police Department. Acting Superintendent Scott Webb told the board the district plans a one-off officer at the high school beginning in August 2025 and estimated the annual cost at $170,000.
Why it matters: Public commenters and board members framed the SRO as part of a broader response to recent safety concerns. Supporters said a trained officer can be a trusted resource and deterrent, while others urged clarity on mandatory reporting, training in trauma-informed care, and how the position would be staffed and funded in future years.
Acting Chief Joe Hogue described the SRO program’s history and staffing considerations. He said the department intends to appoint an experienced officer rather than a trainee and to backfill the chosen officer’s patrol role through the department’s hiring process. “The person selected for this position, we're not looking at a brand new officer,” Hogue said, adding the job description will emphasize relationship-building, presentation and mentoring skills along with enforcement duties.
Board members asked about hiring timelines and training. Hogue said the department hopes to use the interval before August 2025 to recruit and onboard a candidate and run a more extensive assessment process than a typical short interview; he estimated field training and academy timelines for entry-level officers could take 18–24 months, and therefore the SRO should be experienced.
Public comment included both support and caution. Stephanie Kroll, who said she grew up in the community, said officers can “inspire” students and praised the role they played in her life. Michelle Russell asked that officers be trained in trauma-informed approaches, disability-awareness and suicide prevention and suggested parents be present when students are interviewed by police.
The board voted to approve the IGA. The agreement will be part of spring budget planning for the 2025–26 school year; the start date for the officer is targeted at the Monday following selection processes in early February, and the district plans to budget for the position in its spring budget development.
Ending: Chief Hogue and district staff said the job description will be revised to reflect the new emphasis on mentorship, prevention and education; the city’s funding commitment beyond the IGA term remained subject to later city council discussion.
