Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety School Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Brawley approves five‑year school resource officer MOU with school district
Summary
Council approved a five‑year memorandum of understanding with Brawley Union High School District to fund a school resource officer (SRO); the district will pay the officer's fully burdened cost and contribute $60,000 for a police vehicle.
The Brawley City Council on Jan. 21 approved a five‑year memorandum of understanding with the Brawley Union High School District to fund and station a school resource officer on district campuses.
Assistant Chief Jonathan Blackstone presented the MOU. Under the agreement the district will pay the city the fully burdened cost for the assigned officer and will provide a $60,000 vehicle to be used at the school. The initial term covers the 2024–25 school year through the 2028–29 school year, per the MOU language presented to council.
Blackstone described the role as a mixture of safety, prevention and student engagement: "The purpose of the SRO... [is] to provide timely information regarding crimes and trends to the school, safer school environment, building good relationships with the students," he said. The SRO also will do student presentations on substance abuse, bullying and other safety topics and participate in student safety planning.
The agreement specifies a regular work schedule (Monday–Friday) and provides flexibility for a 9/80 schedule as a recruitment and retention option for the position. Council members asked whether the 9/80 option would create coverage gaps; staff said the school has agreed to the arrangement and that overtime or substitute coverage arrangements would be addressed if needed. Staff confirmed the SRO will have a campus office and that the SRO will also serve the district's other campuses, including Desert Valley and Renaissance.
The council approved the MOU by unanimous voice vote.
Ending: The SRO arrangement replaces a previous cost‑sharing COPS grant that has ended; the district assumes full cost going forward and the city and school will coordinate details of scheduling and coverage in implementation.
