Astorino Proposes County Police Officers to Work at Somers, North Salem Schools

As a response to the tragic school shooting on Newtown, CT. last year, both Somers and North Salem school districts sought assistance from Westchester County in creating dedicated School Resource Officers (SROs) posts at their schools. 

The districts sought help when County Executive Robert P. Astorino launched the "Safer Communities" initiative last year. 

This week, Astorino proposed legislation which under his initiative would provide School Resource Officers (SROs) from the county’s Department of Public Safety to the Somers and North Salem school districts for the upcoming school year.

The proposed agreement sent to the Board of Legislators this week for approval calls for two county police officers to be assigned as SROs in the Somers Central School District. 

One officer will be assigned to the Primrose Elementary and Somers High School campus and a second officer will be assigned to the Somers Middle School and Intermediate School campus.

In a separate agreement, another county officer will be assigned as an SRO in the North Salem Central School District, serving the North Salem Middle, High School campus and Pequenakonck Elementary School.

Astorino said the officers would be assigned as SROs for one school year, beginning in September. According to the agreement, the school districts will pay the cost of the police officers’ salaries and benefits during the school year. When school is out, the officers will be assigned to other county patrols, and could be pulled from SRO duty as needed during emergency situations.

In response to the Newtown tragedy, "Safer Communities" has focused on ways that county and local governments, school districts and non-profits can collaborate to offer practical and cost-effective ways to pool resources in order to prevent violence, Astorino said. 

In addition, he said existing state police resources are not equipped to provide dedicated SROs to individual school districts, which created an opportunity for county police to help.

"The Safer Communities initiative is all about collaborating to bring resources together in ways that protect kids and families across Westchester," Astorino said. "In this case, the county is stepping in with officers from our Department of Public Safety to fill a void."

Public Safety Commissioner George N. Longworth explained how SROs can help prevent tragedies while fostering a safer environment within the schools.

"School Resource Officers work closely with school administrators to provide a safe and secure environment for students and staff," he said. "They maintain a visible presence at school buildings and grounds and provide a broad range of services to educators and students at the schools where they are assigned. We look forward to having a successful partnership with the Somers and North Salem school communities."

For example, School Resource Officers assist administrators in developing school security and emergency response plans, participate in lockdown drills, monitor hallways and parking areas, help screen visitors, perform security checks on exterior doors, direct traffic when needed and provide security at school and sporting events that draw large crowds.

SROs also provide student referrals to youth agencies and programs, participate in community-based drug and alcohol prevention programs, prevent or address bullying, and work with teachers to educate students about the dangers of underage drinking, drug abuse, driving while intoxicated, “cyber bullying” and “sexting.”

“Having an actual police officer in the schools, working directly with teachers and administrators and interacting with the students makes a huge difference and reassures parents that their kids are safe when they drop them off at school," President of the North Salem Central School District Board of Trustees Deborah D’Agostino said. "We’re grateful for this partnership with the county and can’t wait for the start of a brand new school year."

Westchester County police officers have served as School Resource Officers at the Anne M. Dorner Middle School in Ossining and Walter Panas High School in Cortlandt.

Longworth said SROs are a good fit for the county police because the department’s patrol needs expand significantly in summer months. In summer when schools are closed the SROs will be deployed to busy county parks and pools, he said.

County Legislator Michael Kaplowitz who represents part of Somers supports the measure. 

“The safety of our children is our highest priority,” Kaplowitz said. “I am pleased that we will be able to provide the Somers and North Salem school districts with the officers they requested. At the same time, the agreement is fair to all Westchester taxpayers. The school districts will pay for the full and fair cost of these officers while they are working in the schools."