Jefferson County Plans More Resource Officers In Schools
Jefferson County law enforcement and education officials announced a plan Thursday to put school resource officers in all 56 county schools.
Less than half of the county’s public schools have resource officers. That means some schools have to share an SRO. For example, the announcement was made at Minor Community School in unincorporated Jefferson County. That school shares an SRO with Minor High School and two other schools according to the school superintendent.
Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale says he hopes to soon have a contract resource officer for Minor Community School and all other schools.
Twelve new resource officers will start training next week, he says. Hale hopes that retired officers will be attracted to the opportunity.
Gov. Kay Ivey has approved the Sentry Program, a voluntary program that would allow educators trained in handling weapons to use them against an intruder in the absence of an officer. Hale says he supports the Second Amendment, but believes placing sworn officers in the schools will make schools safer.
Hale says it’s going to cost an additional $1.2 million to $1.5 million. That cost will be covered by Jefferson County and the county school system, he says.
In addition to the resource officers, the plan also calls for development of threat assessment teams. These teams include sheriff’s department investigators, mental health workers and school officials who can identify troubling behavior in students and develop resources for managing those challenges.
Senators grill Trump’s nominee for Fed amid alarms over central bank independence
White House economist Stephen Miran was quizzed by senators about whether he could make decisions independently of President Trump, if he's confirmed to a seat on the Federal Reserve's governing board.
Senators grill Trump’s nominee for Fed amid alarms over central bank independence
White House economist Stephen Miran was quizzed by senators about whether he could make decisions independently of President Trump, if he's confirmed to a seat on the Federal Reserve's governing board.
A clash of the comebacks: Osaka and Anisimova face off in the U.S. Open semifinals
Naomi Osaka and Amanda Anisimova will face off in the U.S. Open semifinals on Thursday. Both players have been climbing up the rankings after taking mental health breaks from the sport.
Denying famine, Israel threatens more curbs on Gaza aid
Despite experts saying that famine has begun in Gaza, Israel is threatening more curbs on aid deliveries. Aid groups say extra restrictions will make the starvation crisis worse.
‘Task’ is a new, compelling crime drama from the creator of ‘Mare of Easttown’
Mark Ruffalo stars as a former priest turned FBI agent in Brad Ingelsby's new HBO miniseries. Set in small-town Pennsylvania, Task is packed with action and conflict, but it also has a lot of heart.
The NFL is back. Here are 3 big questions as the season kicks off
Which second-year quarterbacks will take a leap forward? Does the Micah Parsons trade make Green Bay a contender? And will Buffalo or Baltimore finally keep the Kansas City Chiefs from the Super Bowl?
