School resource officer program paused
By Dan Thesman on Tuesday, June 21st, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
COLLEGE PLACE – College Place Public Schools will be without a school resource officer (SRO) this upcoming school year due to unforeseen staffing shortages within the College Place Police Department. Unfilled positions and the sudden departure of a pair of officers created the need to keep all officers on patrol in the community.
“Officers will still be actively involved in the schools; it will just look different until staffing levels improve,” CPPD Chief Troy Tomaras said.
While the district was expecting a change in the SRO program with the departure of Officer Joey Langlois accepting a promotion with the police department, Superintendent Jim Fry said the district didn’t see this coming.
“We were working on our transition plan after Officer Langlois when the department was met with this unfortunate obstacle,” Fry said. “The SRO position is a highly valued team member in our system, and we are sad to lose it.”
The district is looking at temporary solutions for the year to continue to keep kids safe, provide additional campus supervision, and to foster positive relationships with students across the district. Fry said the College Place Police Department will continue to make regular visits to College Place schools and be a presence at all extracurricular and large community events.
“The officers in CPPD are always welcome in our schools and are and extension of us,” Fry added.
The SRO program has been in effect in the district for the past five years.
