UPDATED: School Resource Officer Agreement Reached

Editor's Note: This article was updated at 11:30 a.m. Thursday.

At Monday’s regular Council meeting, a motion was passed to proceed with an agreement with the for a school resource officer (SRO). 

The SRO would be a full-time, armed police officer posted at who would report to the Peters Township police Chief Harry Fruecht.

The motion passed with a 4-2 vote, with Robert Atkison and Frank Arcuri dissenting, and Gary Stiegel absent.  

Atkison indicated he was not opposed to having the SRO, but didn’t think the municipality should be responsible for doing it or paying for it. The draft agreement includes that the district would be responsible for paying 75 percent of the annual cost, and the municipality 25 percent, which would amount to approximately $20,822 annually.

The municipality agreed to cover 25 percent of the cost because the resource officer will only be at the school during the regular school year and work as a community officer when school is not in session.  

The did not receive a grant to support having an SRO.

“This is a big step for the community. It’s not a budgeted expense, but it’s something we must go ahead and do,” said council President Robert Lewis, who indicated he was impressed with the open communication with the administration and school board at the last meeting.

"The at the high school was not a result of a threat or increased crime at the school, but an effort to take a 'proactive approach to providing a safe and secure environment,'” said District Spokesperson Shelly Belcher earlier this year. Members of council and citizens shared the feedback they received from other districts with a SRO in place.

and he has received good feedback from the students, faculty and community as well as increased building security during the time he was there. 

“The expense in nominal to avoid what could be a significant issue that might unfold,” said Lewis.

The agreement will be revised with minor changes and will be reviewed by the district, municipality and administration before going into effect at the start of the school year.

Other council business:

• Also at the council meeting, a motion was passed to approve a land swap between the municipality and a Hidden Valley resident to remedy an encroachment on open township property. The proposed agreement was approved unanimously contingent upon the addition of an indemnification clause and maintenance agreement as well as 67 percent approval from homeowner’s association. Once the agreement is in place, the homeowner will not have to tear down their pool and patio, which mistakenly encroaches on township open space.
• A resolution to approve the revised PCSA Act 537 plan for the Peters Creek Sanitary Authority passed unanimously.
• The Great Meadows Phase 4 plan revision, which records easement locations, was approved unanimously.
• Township Manager Michael Silvestri mentioned that earned income tax revenue was down due to the change in tax collectors and outstanding money from the city of Pittsburgh.
• Silvestri also mentioned that the township received a bid for $10,000 to sell an unused fire engine.

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