Council OKs third school resource officer for district under updated cost-sharing agreement

White Bear Lake — The City Council voted to authorize an agreement with the White Bear Lake area schools to provide a third school resource officer (SRO) for the 2024–25 school year, expanding the police presence and juvenile-investigation capacity available within the district.

Chief Hager told councilors the district recently consolidated high schools, making the primary campus one of the largest in the state and prompting the district to request an additional SRO. Hager described SRO duties as including juvenile criminal investigations, summer support for patrol and investigative units, and other school-related responsibilities.

City staff revised the agreement this year to better reflect a fair reimbursement arrangement and to request that the school district contribute to specialized SRO training that the state adopted last year. Hager said the change would increase sworn staffing citywide from 31 to 32 officers and that the city expects to assign an experienced officer to the role.

Council members expressed support while noting operational impacts. Council member Walsh asked whether the city would still respond to schools outside the city limits; staff said the city responds only to schools inside the city and that the county sheriff covers schools outside White Bear Lake. Members also discussed temporary patrol vacancies when an internal officer is reassigned and the department's hiring plan; Hager said the department is actively hiring and does not anticipate long-term coverage gaps.

Council voted in favor of the resolution authorizing the mayor and city manager to execute the three-officer agreement.