Three more Oak Ridge Police Department officers are stationed at Oak Ridge High School and Alternative School this year. The ORPD now has a school resource officer, a sergeant, and two non-patrol officers at the two schools.
Three more Oak Ridge Police Department officers are stationed at Oak Ridge High School and Alternative School this year. However, they are not school resource officers, or SROs.
For the past few years, the ORPD has had an SRO who works mostly at the high school. This year, though, a sergeant and two non-patrol officers are also stationed there and at the Alternative School next door, ORPD Chief Jim Akagi said Monday.
School officials had requested more SROs this year, following the December massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., but funding has been an obstacle. While the new arrangement doesn’t add SROs, it will increase the police presence and visibility, Akagi said.
ORPD School Resource Officer Sherrill Selby will continue to work at the high school. She will be joined by Sgt. Robert Pitts, Photo Enforcement Officer Karen Jenkins, and Community Resource Officer Daniel McFee, who is a former SRO.
On Wednesday, new Oak Ridge Schools Superintendent Bruce Borchers said Akagi approached him with the plan to house a few extra officers at the school.
“It was a win-win opportunity,” Borchers said. “We get an increased presence of police, and they have a space to do their normal work.”
Borchers said Jenkins and Pitts will be stationed at the high school, and McFee will work at the Alternative School.
The Oak Ridge school system once had three SROs: one at the high school and two at each of the middle schools.
City and school officials recently announced they had signed a new agreement governing the SRO program. The seven-page agreement signed Aug. 7 is a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, and it formalizes the relationship between the city and schools.
Sam Hopwood says
WoW!!! ORHS has gone from one to four police offiicers but not to worry, all is well at the ranch…… What am I missing here??
Angi Agle says
Maybe that ORPD doesn’t quite have enough office space, so the schools agreed to give them a place to work because their presence alone is a deterrent. Prevention is preferable to (and cheaper than) remediation.
Sam Hopwood says
Good try Angi but we both know the real reason. Students are finally safer now. Thank you Chief Akagi and Super Borchers. A giant step forward and a BIG thank you to Trina. Ya done good!!
Dave Smith says
“Finally safer” from what? Anecdotes?
You must have a bureaucratic mindset because only such would characterize the mere presence of people (i.e., police officers) doing paperwork as a “giant step forward.”
If the halls of ORHS and the middle schools are as dangerous as Baughn would have us believe, then what we need is armed officers moving through the halls during school hours, not officers sitting at desks writing reports or scrutinizing traffic camera photos.
Sam Hopwood says
Super Borchers seems very pleased that three additional armed officers are now stationed at ORHS. So far there have been no public complaints from David Bryant or any of the ORHS teachers but perhaps I’ve missed that.
Skirnir Hamilton says
I assume these officers will not be under the same agreement with the school system that the SROs were under, correct?
johnhuotari says
Sorry about the delay in getting back to you. I believe that is a correct assumption, that the non-SROs will not be governed by the SRO agreement.
Denny Phillips says
“TB” it ain’t just tuberculosis anymore!
Mike Mahathy says
John: I guess they are removing Jenkins from the RR station?
johnhuotari says
RR station?
Mike says
ORPD has or has a substation at Rarity Ridge staffed by Jenkins. Can you find out what will become of it?
johnhuotari says
Ok. I didn’t realize Officer Jenkins wasn’t still working in the ORPD Records area at city hall.
Sam Hopwood says
Had no idea that you guys at the Outpost were so rowdy that a police substation had been established there. Does not Roane County service that area?
Mike Mahathy says
Sam, Like you, we are in the city. The ORPD serves us just like you and not the Anderson County sherriff’s office. We pay city taxes too, like you. Thank you for your understanding.
Sam Hopwood says
The Anderson County Sheriff’s office serves Oak Ridge too, Mike. They are quite visable from time to time.
Andrew Howe says
Totally gnarly, ORS and ORPD. You get the Spicoli seal of approval!
😉