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Apopka chief says police did not seek removal of SROs; city warns program may be unsustainable without added funding
Summary
Chief McKinley told the City Council Apopka maintained SROs throughout negotiations and accepted a one-year agreement for 2024–25, but the city covers a significant share of costs and could face deficits if OCPS does not increase reimbursement.
Chief Mike McKinley told the Apopka City Council on Dec. 18 that the Apopka Police Department has never proposed removing school resource officers from city schools and that recent communications from Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) to parents mischaracterized the cities’ position. "At no time has the Apopka Police Department suggested or attempted to remove SROs from our schools," McKinley said.
McKinley said the city negotiated a one‑year contract for the 2024–25 school year after months of talks with OCPS and other small cities. He told the council the prior three‑year agreement had increased the SRO program cost by about 45%, taking the program above $1.6 million, and that current costs have risen further to more than $1.7 million. “We are only receiving 54% reimbursement for these expenses,” he said, describing a shortfall the city has been absorbing.
McKinley said the department currently staffs 11 SRO positions across Apopka schools, including three at the high school and one at each middle and elementary school. He described additional time and resources devoted by detectives and SROs to school investigations and active‑threat follow‑up, and warned that persistent deficits would make the program unsustainable without new funding arrangements.
Council members pressed for clarity on consultation and communications. Commissioner Nesta said he had not been directly consulted on negotiations and asked that be noted; other members expressed support for McKinley’s efforts. Mayor and councilors said they have asked state legislative policy and budget chairs to consider funding help. The council did not direct immediate local policy changes during the meeting.
What happens next: McKinley said the chiefs of the five cities involved and their mayors remain engaged in negotiations; residents were urged to bring funding questions to OCPS and to attend upcoming school board meetings.
