Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners keep two middle‑school SROs in sheriff’s budget; discuss COPS grant for additional officers
Summary
The board decided to keep two school resource officers (SROs) in the sheriff’s FY2014 budget for two middle schools and reviewed the possibility of accepting up to six additional SROs under a COPS grant; commissioners discussed holding contingency funds in reserve pending grant outcome.
St. Mary’s County commissioners on May 20 confirmed funding for two school resource officers in the sheriff’s FY2014 budget — positions intended to serve two middle schools — and discussed a possible federal COPS grant that could add up to six additional officers.
Sheriff Cameron and School Superintendent Dr. Martirano both addressed the board. The sheriff said an academy class beginning July 15 is the pipeline to staff new SRO positions; removing the two budgeted SROs now would leave the middle schools uncovered until the next class completion. Dr. Martirano and commissioners emphasized that SROs should remain dedicated to school assignments to the extent possible.
Staff briefed the board that a COPS grant application was scheduled for the next day seeking funding for up to six school resource officers. Commissioners noted the federal grant’s anti‑supplanting requirement — a COPS award would add positions above the county baseline rather than replace county funding. Because grant awards are uncertain and likely decided in the fall, several commissioners favored a flexible approach: keep the two SROs in the sheriff’s FY2014 budget and hold potential contingency funding in reserve so the county could accept grant awards without having already reallocated the same dollars.
The board conducted an on‑the‑record check of positions: Commissioner Todd B. Morgan said he favored keeping the two middle‑school SROs in place; Commissioner Cynthia L. Jones registered a no; other commissioners expressed support for retaining the SROs. The board concluded to leave the two SROs funded and to retain flexibility for accepting federal grant awards, with staff to present grant details and any necessary implementation steps when available.
Commissioners and sheriff discussed timeline implications if the county accepts COPS grants, noting that grant‑funded positions typically require a multi‑year commitment (the sheriff referenced 36 months) and that acceptance would create ongoing staffing obligations beyond the grant period.
