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Tualatin council adopts intergovernmental agreement to continue school resource officer program
Summary
Council voted unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 5907-25 authorizing an IGA with the Tigard-Tualatin School District to fund two school resource officers; the district will increase its share to 75% this year and work toward covering 100% of the top-paid officer in future years.
The Tualatin City Council on Aug. 25 adopted Resolution No. 5907-25 authorizing the city manager to sign an intergovernmental agreement with the Tigard-Tualatin School District to continue a school resource officer (SRO) program that assigns two officers to district schools.
The council approved the resolution after a presentation by Chief Pickering and School Resource Officer Miller that detailed the SROs’ scope of work and last school year’s statistics. The agreement preserves two officers — one assigned primarily to the high school and one to the middle school — who also provide periodic coverage and services to elementary schools and the Horizon program.
Why it matters: the IGA defines the city–school funding partnership for officers who are embedded in schools daily, providing law-related education, event coverage and case support. Chief Pickering said the district has agreed to increase its contribution this school year to 75% of the top-paid officer’s salary and to escalate that contribution in coming years toward fully funding the top salary.
Officer Miller described last school year’s contacts: 47 offense reports, 10 arrest reports, 33 supplemental reports and a range of incident types including assaults, harassment, DHS referrals, drug incidents and school threats. Miller said most SRO interactions are initiated by students, parents or school staff rather than self-initiated by officers and emphasized the officers’ day-to-day engagement in school activities and restorative responses that aim to reduce referrals to the criminal justice system. "As Tualatin SROs, we are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of every student by ensuring each child feel safe in the classroom environment," Officer Miller said.
Council members praised the officers’ community work and asked questions about coverage, program outcomes and how SROs engage with elementary schools. Chief Pickering and Officer Miller described event duties (sports, parades, graduation), classroom visits, lockdown-drill participation and outreach such as reading events, and said both officers maintain a regular presence in their assigned schools.
A council motion to adopt Resolution No. 5907-25 passed on a voice vote with all members recorded in favor.
