Police May Patrol Schools’ Hallways

Police may be cruising the hallways and parking lots of Coeur d’Alene’s high schools this fall if city and school officials approve plans for hiring “school resource officers.”

Next Monday, the Coeur d’Alene School Board will consider a proposal to use $35,000 budgeted for security officers to pay for a police officer to patrol one of the high schools instead.

Under an proposed agreement with the city, the city would pay for another officer to patrol the other high school.

“We want the school resource officers to develop good relationships with the students and the staff,” said assistant Superintendent Dave Teater. “The potential for good things they can do with young people goes pretty deep.”

The Coeur d’Alene City Council also must approve of the plan, which involves hiring another officer for the police force.

Police Chief Dave Scates said the arrangement would free time now spent responding to calls at the high schools and help officers investigate juvenile crime.

, DataTimes