Encinitas council asks staff to study two school resource deputies, outreach to districts

The Encinitas City Council unanimously directed staff to analyze costs and operational options for assigning two full-time sheriff deputies as school resource officers (SROs) to city schools and to begin formal outreach with school districts and other stakeholders.

Councilmember Marco San Antonio introduced the item as an exploratory request for staff to prepare a comprehensive report on hiring two full-time deputies — one focused on elementary schools and another on middle and high schools — to rotate through public campuses inside the city.

Captain Ken Watts of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office described an SRO role he said is largely preventive and community-focused rather than enforcement-first. “Once they knew what we could bring for the value of having us there … 90% of what I did on a daily basis was not enforcement,” Watts told council, describing examples such as mentoring students, acting as a school liaison and coordinating with counselors to intervene before problems became crises.

Public comment included parents and educators who welcomed the exploration but urged staff to consult school leaders first. EUSD and San Dieguito Union High School District leaders told council they had not been asked about the idea before the agenda item was posted; the city manager said staff would initiate district-level outreach. A number of parents who spoke at the meeting said safety is a top priority and supported further study; others urged investment in mental-health professionals and school counselors rather than police presence on campus.

On a motion approved unanimously, council directed staff to: 1) prepare a report identifying costs, staffing models and any past city participation in SRO programs; 2) initiate outreach to the Encinitas Union School District, Cardiff School District and San Dieguito Union High School District to seek input and possible memoranda of understanding on shared responsibilities and costs; and 3) include exploration of whether private and charter schools could be accommodated in any program. Staff noted that any final agreements or contracts with the sheriff or school districts would return to council for approval and that budget implications would be considered in future budget cycles.

Councilmembers said they favored a deliberate, consultative process. Several noted that SROs can provide regular contact with students at school and during after-school events, and that a shared, cost-effective model — equivalent to “roving” deputies or a two-deputy rotation — would let deputies carry out other duties when school is not in session.

Staff was directed to return with a timeline, cost estimates, and proposed MOU language or an outreach plan for district review.