Council approves MOU to use off‑duty officers for Rockridge school security

The Eveleth City Council approved a memorandum of understanding with Rockridge School District and neighboring police agencies to provide extra security coverage at school events and locations using off‑duty officers. The council voted to move forward with the agreement after the police chief described the staffing arrangement and operational details.

Police Chief said the district "has been asking for a school resource officer for a number of years," but that staffing shortages make a full‑time SRO infeasible now. He told the council that the departments agreed to fill overtime shifts at $80 an hour, and that Virginia will sign up for shifts first, followed by Eveleth and then Gilbert if vacancies remain. "We're not going to be acting in that SRO role," Chief said, describing the officers' primary duties as security tasks such as checking doors rather than handling truancy or school discipline.

Councilors asked whether officers would be trained on district rules and student handbook provisions; the chief said officers were familiar with responsibilities and that the school resource officer assigned to the district would continue to oversee school‑specific duties. The motion to approve the memorandum of understanding was moved, seconded and carried by voice vote.

The MOU sets shift windows at either 8 a.m.–1 p.m. or 10:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.; staff cautioned that if no agency fills a posted overtime shift, the position will remain vacant for that day. The council did not set additional funding beyond the overtime arrangement and described the MOU as an interim step while staffing capacity is evaluated.