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Sterns County sheriff outlines SRO coverage and training after local officer retires
Summary
Sterns County will provide school-resource-officer coverage after the district's SRO retires; the sheriff described a relationship-focused SRO model, a guaranteed minimum of 20 hours per week coverage, training requirements and that SRO contract terms are typically presented in June or July.
The Sterns County sheriff briefed the Paynesville School Board on how the county will provide school-resource-officer (SRO) coverage after the district's current SRO retires.
"What you get from us is a guaranteed officer here at the minimum 20 hours a week," Sheriff Steve said, outlining a minimum weekly presence and saying the office prefers the officer role to focus on relationship-building and community engagement rather than routine enforcement. He described SROs’ work as including classroom contact, after-hours presence at events and participation in active-threat training.
Sheriff Steve told the board that SROs in his office attend the National Association of School Resource Officers training and that the association membership and related training are required by state statute. He also outlined grant history: the county previously used a Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant to place officers in some schools and absorbed positions when grant terms ended, and noted that any new or renewed SRO contract would typically be presented to the board in June or July.
Board members asked about hours, costs and grant options; the sheriff said Sterns County aims to balance staffing across towns and that the county’s model typically guarantees about 20 hours per week for an SRO but is flexible if officers are present more. He also described summer work for SRO personnel when school is out — community engagement and youth programming — and offered to support active-threat training for district staff.
No formal contract vote was recorded in the provided transcript; the board will consider the contract in the district’s standard contracting cycle later this spring or summer.
