Council directs staff to pilot school resource officer and explore private security options for schools

Council considered item 6B, a staff report on a school-safety assessment recommending continued exploration of a school resource officer (SRO). Staff noted the city's sheriff contract is measured in 'minutes' of coverage and currently funds several special-assignment deputies, a half position assigned to juvenile investigations, and other units. The staff report said the city could reassign a special-assignment deputy to provide SRO coverage but that doing so would reallocate existing public-safety minutes.

Public witnesses — parents, PTA and school-site council representatives — urged the council to move quickly, with several speakers calling for a pilot SRO or a private security contract. Speakers provided cost estimates for private vendors (approximately $75/hour plus a vehicle fee, which equates to roughly $150,000 per officer per year in one vendor’s quote). After discussion, council members directed staff to (1) work with the sheriff to reassign one special-assignment deputy to be an SRO stationed at Malibu High (serving the high school primarily and roaming as needed to middle and elementary campuses), (2) seek authorization/coordination from the Santa Monica–Malibu Unified School District for presence on school property, and (3) simultaneously prepare an RFP to evaluate private security providers so the city can implement an SRO program by the start of the next school year (timeline guidance given to staff). Council asked staff to return required authorizations to council as necessary.