Emmett trustees approve rifle safe for school resource officer

The Emmett Independent District Board of Trustees voted to allow the district’s school resource officer to secure a patrol rifle in a locked safe in the SRO office.

Chief Kanko of the Emmett City Police introduced Officer Anthony Nunez, who recently took the SRO role and completed SRO training last November. Nunez requested permission to have an AR-style patrol rifle stored in a bolt-mounted safe in the SRO office, with access restricted to the officer. “It’ll be bolted in the SRO office, both in the front of the wall,” Nunez said during the meeting. Chief Kanko told the board that similar safes are standard practice in neighboring jurisdictions and that the rifle would supplement patrol response capability “down long hallways and clear rooms.”

Board members asked procedural and access questions, including who would have access and whether custodial staff would be excluded. Nunez and Chief Kanko said the safe would be secured so only the SRO could access it. After discussion a board member made a motion to allow installation of the safe in the SRO office; the motion was seconded and the board approved it.

The vote followed a brief history of Nunez’s law enforcement experience, which chief Kanko outlined: Nunez worked in California (Orange County) and later in other jurisdictions before joining the Emmett department in late 2023 and completing SRO training in November. The board asked the SRO to return for a future report about his duties and the program; the SRO and chief said they would schedule a quarterly briefing as required by their agreement.

The board’s action was limited to permitting the safe in the SRO office; no changes to written weapons or use-of-force policy were presented or adopted at the meeting.

Board members and staff said they appreciated the SRO program and the presentation. No member asked for further modifications to the motion when the vote was taken.