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Sheriff’s Department School Resource Deputy program receiving positive reviews

Posted 11/7/22

BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI North Country This Week CANTON — Two schools currently utilize a School Resource Deputy (SRD) supplied by the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office but officials hope to be in a …

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Sheriff’s Department School Resource Deputy program receiving positive reviews

Posted

BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI
North Country This Week

CANTON — Two schools currently utilize a School Resource Deputy (SRD) supplied by the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office but officials hope to be in a position to offer every district a SRD in the near future.

St. Lawrence County Sheriff Brooks Bigwarfe said his department has heard rave reviews from officials at both Edwards-Knox and Hermon-DeKalb School Districts.

“We’ve heard great things from everyone involved and been told it’s been a very positive experience for everyone involved,” Bigwarfe said.

Though a third district has reached out to Bigwarfe’s office, that may be the last SRD that can be offered until hiring would allow for more deputies.

“We can do three maximum right now but our hope is that in four to five years the program will be large enough and successful enough that any district that wants an SRD can get one,” Bigwarfe said.

For the 2022 school year an SRD will cost a school district a maximum of $104,000. That figure is the same for every district as the contract is standardized county wide.

“Ultimately it won’t cost that much, we figure the numbers based on our top officer salaries so the districts don’t have any surprises down the road,” Bigwarfe said.

The variance in cost comes from the steps built in for salaries, as well as fringe benefits and the potential overtime expenses that may be incurred if a district requested an SRD complete duties outside of the normal school day.

“One big thing for us is that we aren’t putting in a new deputy. With this program we have highly qualified, experienced deputies who are well vetted and are cut out for the position,” Bigwarfe said.

School Resource Officers have grown in popularity in recent months with many districts from around the state adding in school officers for protection.

Massena Central School District and the Village of Massena recently approved a resolution that would see an officer from the Massena Police Department work as a SRO for the district.

“Our goal is to ensure the safety of the community and our children in school and I think the program is a great way to ensure that. We hope to keep growing it in the future and to continue to build on the success we’ve experienced already,” Bigwarfe said.