POTSDAM - Potsdam Central’s in-school police officer has been busy during his first two months on the job with student discipline issues, a drug investigation and a recommendation to the district to begin developing a Threat Assessment Team.

School officials refer to the armed cop who patrols the hallways as a “school resource officer” or “student resource officer.”

Members of the Potsdam Central School Resource Officer Steering Committee met Nov. 7 to discuss the recent activity of its armed in-school officer over the first eight weeks of school.

Officer Michael Neaton, who was hired this past summer by the Potsdam Village Board, participated in a two-day active shooter training, one-day training on threat assessment teams, and attended a full-day workshop sponsored by Seaway Valley Prevention Council called High in Plain Sight.

After attending a two-day training, Neaton recommended the district begin developing a threat assessment team.

The District Safety Committee watched a demonstration of the Tip411 app, which would allow students, parents, staff, and community members to submit information anonymously about a student or person of concern.

PCS Superintendent Joann Chambers said the district will work to get more information out to the public about the Threat Assessment Team and Tip411 soon.

Neaton has assisted middle and high school principals with half a dozen student discipline issues, according to school officials.

“He was in the right place at the right time and broke up a physical altercation between two high school girls,” according to minutes from the meeting. He assisted with an investigation when it was reported that a student smelled of marijuana. In each case, he took a secondary role as the principal continues to be the disciplinarian, the school said.

Neaton has addressed student safety issues, particularly in the high school student parking lot. He has observed a few security-related issues in the district and brought forth recommendations for improvement. For example, he was concerned about the number of unlocked doors at the start of the day at the high school. Working with PCS High School Principal Mark Bennett, he has recommended reducing the number significantly and providing active supervision by assigned staff during the time students are arriving, according to the school.

He is now the district’s point of contact for state police, the sheriff’s department, and village police. If there is law enforcement involvement at the home of one of our students, Neaton will be notified so he can communicate this to the appropriate building administrator. Then, counselors and staff can be made aware as well, officials said.

Neaton has also provided a variety of educational programming. He participated in the elementary school’s Positive Behavior, Intervention, and Supports kick-off, leading a session in conjunction with a school counselor. He provided an internet safety session for 7th and 8th grade students. He discussed Halloween safety with pre-kindergarten students.

He joined the boys’ counseling group and attended a field trip to SUNY Potsdam when this group participated in the ropes course there. He has been active in the high school Positivity Project Club and accompanied the group to the Potsdam Elks Lodge where students did a presentation about The Positivity Project.