ORANGETOWN

Pearl River, South Orangetown each get their own police officers

Kimberly Redmond
Rockland/Westchester Journal News

Come September, all eight public school districts in Rockland County will have their own dedicated school resource officer to assist with safety and security issues.

Up until June, Orangetown police Detective Brandon Myers was splitting his time as a part-time SRO on an as-needed basis between the two school districts located in town, South Orangetown and Pearl River.

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Orangetown police SRO Andrew Vergine, Capt. Donald Butterworth and SRO Mike Taylor

Now, thanks to a new agreement between South Orangetown schools, Pearl River schools and the Town of Orangetown, both districts will have full-time school resource officers. 

At the start of the 2018-19 school year, Orangetown police Officer Andrew Vergine will begin as SRO stationed at Tappan Zee High School and Officer Mike Taylor be at Pearl River High School.

“This is an incredibly important moment for parents and kids in Orangetown,” Town Supervisor Chris Day said at a press conference Monday afternoon outside Town Hall.

The agreement, which was finalized earlier in the day, will allow for SROs to be regularly stationed in schools "to watch for warning signs of potential violence, drug issues and other crimes, to serve as a positive role model to our youth and, in a worst case scenario, to serve as last line of defense if someone attempts to harm our children," he said. 

According to Day, it has been about a decade since both districts had full-time cops in schools. Like many places, budgetary constraints about 10 years ago forced cuts or prompted school boards to look for ways to share services to save money, which led to the part-time SRO, Day said.

However, in the wake of recent school shootings and an ongoing nationwide opioid crisis, municipal and school officials began talks last spring on how to strengthen its law enforcement presence at local schools.

Getting full-time SROs back was an objective identified by Day at the start of his first term in January. However, in order to make that happen, both districts needed to kick in some funding for the positions.

“I am extremely proud that both districts and the town have been able to deliver this result to our residents in a fair and fiscally responsible way," Day said.

Under the arrangement, Pearl River and South Orangetown will each pay $50,000 each year, which is half of their SRO’s salary, and the town will pay the balance for both positions.

Both officers will report to the Town Board, but the districts will manage the officers’ day-to-day tasks and assignments, which can include programs and visits to other schools within the district.

South Orangetown Schools Superintendent Robert Pritchard speaks at a press conference announcing a new SRO agreement with Orangetown while Town Supervisor Chris Day (left) looks on.

Orangetown police Capt. Don Butterworth said having SROs in each school on a full-time basis will help “build a strong foundation with our youth, educators and police officers that will benefit our entire community.”

Pearl River Superintendent Mario Pochintesta said school safety remains one of their top priorities and thanked the town for working together on an agreement.

South Orangetown Superintendent Robert Pritchard said having "better control" over the district's SRO "an important asset to safety and well-being" programs already in place at schools. 

Pearl River school district

  • K-12 enrollment: 2,434
  • Number of schools: 5
  • District cost: $50,000
  • Town cost: $50,000
  • SRO: Mike Taylor
  • Quote: "I think it can be one of the most rebellious times for kids, but I think if there is good leadership, good guidance and good teachers and an SRO, it can reinforce the same values my family has."

South Orangetown school district

  • K-12 enrollment: 3,015
  • Number of schools: 4
  • District cost: $50,000
  • Town cost: $50,000
  • SRO: Andrew Vergine, a 10-year-veteran of the force
  • Quote: "I am looking forward to interacting with the kids, getting to know people and addressing any issues they may have."

Data released in June from the National Center for Education Statistics shows more and more schools across the country have added or expanded SRO programs.

Across the country, many districts have either restored or are trying to restore SRO programs following the tragedies at Sandy Hook Elementary and Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School.

Proponents of such programs say having an officer on campus makes schools safer for students and staff by deterring would-be attackers and decreasing overall violence.

SROs, who are sworn police officers, typically perform a number of roles, such as liaison to the police and a mentor to students. Many also assist in development of school policies regarding safety and teach classes in substance abuse awareness and crime prevention.

As of 2015-16, 57 percent of schools have one, which is up 10 percentage points from a decade earlier. About 90 percent of SROs at schools can carry firearms.

Schools in Clarkstown, East Ramapo, North Rockland, Nanuet, Nyack and Suffern each already have either a part- or full-time SRO.

Cops in schools are just one of the many security measures in place in local districts.

After school shootings in recent years, schools in Rockland County have invested in bolstering security plans. Surveillance cameras, bullet-resistant glass, door locks and ID card scanners are among the items many districts have added to campuses over the years.