Report Prepared by: Matt Williams, Police Captain, Merced Police Department
Title
SUBJECT: Merced County Office of Education Contract for Police Services
REPORT IN BRIEF:
Consider approving Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Merced Police Department and the Merced County Office of Education (MCOE) for police services at Valley Community School.
RECOMMENDATION:
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Approving a contract between the City of Merced Police Department and the Merced County Office of Education for police services of one police officer at Valley Community School; and,
B. Authorizing the City Manager to execute the agreement; and,
C. Authorizing the Finance Officer to make the appropriate budget adjustments.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended by staff; or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items; or,
5. Continue to a future City Council meeting.
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Council Requested Project - School Resource Officers.
DISCUSSION
Valley Community School has requested to continue having a School Resource Officer at their school during the 2016-17 school year. The Police Department plans to assign one officer to provide police services at Valley Community School and to work with school administrators, staff and students in order to facilitate a safe learning environment.
The program has been effective in providing services that help to establish and maintain a sense of order and acceptable standards of behavior in the schools.
The program provides daily contact between students, officers and staff which helps to develop positive relationships between youth and authority figures in an environment that the youth are familiar with and in an environment that the youth are comfortable in. The program creates opportunities for positive interactions between kids and officers.
Additionally, the officer’s presence on campus decreases incidents of violence and other disruptive behavior that prevent learning.
The agreement specifies that the School District’s maximum payment for full-time SRO’s salary and approved overtime is not to exceed $114,817 for the fiscal year.
In the event that a full-time SRO is not available, the Police Department may assign a part-time SRO. The agreement specifies that the School District’s maximum payment for a part-time SRO’s salary and benefits shall not exceed $37,546.
Under the agreement, the part-time SRO may not work more than 25 hours per week and is not authorized to work overtime.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES:
Not Applicable.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Signed MOU between City of Merced and MCOE