For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, July 27, 2005

WASHINGTON D.C - U.S. Representative Dan Boren today announced a Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant award in the amount of $106,249 to hire a School Resource Officer for Poteau Public School system.  

 

“In order for our students to learn and succeed, they must have the safest possible environment that we can provide them,” Boren said.  

 

“I’m extremely pleased about this funding.  I’m confident that it will make a positive difference in the community and become an effective component of school safety,” Boren said. 

 

The grant was awarded under the COPS in Schools program, which funds the hiring of community policing officers to work in schools.  The grant will pay the salary and benefits of the new officer over the next three years.  COPS will also provide school safety training for the officer and a Poteau school administrator.

 

School Resource Officers (SRO) are sworn law enforcement officers and become permanently assigned to a school or school system.  While the specific activities of a SRO are determined by the unique needs of the school and the community they serve, their primary role is to safeguard students by providing a law enforcement presence at his/her assigned schools. 

 

Many SROs also teach crime prevention and substance abuse classes, serve as coaches, monitor and counsel troubled students, and ultimately build respect and understanding between law enforcement and students.

 

Including the grant to Poteau, the COPS in Schools program has provided funds to train over 6,600 SROs nationwide.

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