LIBERTY Schools will get resource officer

The new officer will work to make the schools better and safer.
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
LIBERTY -- A township police officer is expected to be on duty as a full-time school resource officer here early next year after undergoing a week of training in Cincinnati in January, said Robert Lackey, school board president.
A selection committee made up of school and township officials will recommend an officer for that assignment, and Police Chief Anthony Slifka will make the decision on which officer will work in the new position. Township trustees and school board members discussed details of the program in a special meeting of the trustees Thursday.
"The school resource officer has the ability to come into the school, earn the trust of the students and work with them to make everything get along," Lackey said. This officer will "work to make the schools a better place, a safer place," he said, adding that part of the officer's job will be to combat truancy and vandalism. The officer will likely be assigned primarily to the high school and W.S. Guy Middle School, Lackey said.
Replacement needed
Before an officer can be assigned to the schools, a replacement officer must be hired to do routine township police work as required by the federal grant paying for the school officer.
The four-year school officer assignment is projected to cost $230,110, with $125,000 coming from U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Police Services (COPS) grant program, and the remainder to be split evenly between the township and the school district. The federal money is to be spent in the first three years, with the fourth year paid for entirely by local funds.
"It's a good opportunity for the township and the schools to work together," said Trustee Gary Litch. However, he added that, given the uncertainty concerning the township's financial position four years from now, he wants to make sure the township isn't committing itself to absorb the new position if the school officer program isn't renewed after four years.
"It's really a good resource because that person could be the eyes and ears of what's going on in the community, problems with kids, problems that maybe come up in the community," said Township Administrator Patrick Ungaro. Based on his experience as a school administrator in Youngstown, Ungaro said such an officer can "cut off problems, solve problems and help kids and parents."