Sheriff Unveils SRO Proposal
Plan Calls For One Officer Per School
Posted: March 16, 2013
WOODSTOCK — Shenandoah County Sheriff Tim Carter unveiled a proposal Thursday in an effort to get school resource officers into every school in the county next year.
Last month, the Board of Supervisors voted to allocate $50,000 in reserve funds to place additional law enforcement officers in the schools for the remainder of the year.
Carter said whatever funding the board decides to put toward his request for additional trained SROs, he will match it using asset forfeiture money. He said he will also cover the cost of the necessary equipment.
But County Administrator Doug Walker said he would counsel the board to be cautious when using “one-time” money for an ongoing expense.
“If you are going to have 10 SROs in 10 schools, you’ll likely have 10 SROs in 10 schools the next year and the year after that,” Walker said.
Carter said he would be willing to pledge the use of a portion of his asset forfeiture funds for at least a five-year period.
“I’m not trying to throw a monkey wrench into your process. I’m trying to help you with this process,” he said.
The use of asset forfeiture funds for additional SROs is not in the administrator’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year. But Walker said that can change if the board decides to move forward with the proposal from the sheriff.
Walker did caution, however, that the board already has a $650,000 deficit to balance in the upcoming spending plan.
“This proposed budget [as is] makes further progress in getting you out of that hole,” he said, noting that further use of forfeiture money will hinder that process.
Contact Kaitlin Mayhew at 574-6290 or kmayhew@dnronline.com
Last month, the Board of Supervisors voted to allocate $50,000 in reserve funds to place additional law enforcement officers in the schools for the remainder of the year.
Carter said whatever funding the board decides to put toward his request for additional trained SROs, he will match it using asset forfeiture money. He said he will also cover the cost of the necessary equipment.
But County Administrator Doug Walker said he would counsel the board to be cautious when using “one-time” money for an ongoing expense.
“If you are going to have 10 SROs in 10 schools, you’ll likely have 10 SROs in 10 schools the next year and the year after that,” Walker said.
Carter said he would be willing to pledge the use of a portion of his asset forfeiture funds for at least a five-year period.
“I’m not trying to throw a monkey wrench into your process. I’m trying to help you with this process,” he said.
The use of asset forfeiture funds for additional SROs is not in the administrator’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year. But Walker said that can change if the board decides to move forward with the proposal from the sheriff.
Walker did caution, however, that the board already has a $650,000 deficit to balance in the upcoming spending plan.
“This proposed budget [as is] makes further progress in getting you out of that hole,” he said, noting that further use of forfeiture money will hinder that process.
Contact Kaitlin Mayhew at 574-6290 or kmayhew@dnronline.com