Even though some worry about guns in school, armed security guards would bring school safety up to a new level, Schoharie County Sheriff Ron Stevens believes.
Cobleskill Police Chief Rich Bialkowski agrees, and both men feel that guards––called school resource officers––could build trust and relationships with students and staff.
But safety comes first.
“A resource officer can mitigate problems before they happen,” said Sheriff Stevens. “You get one chance at this.”
Since the Parkland, Florida shootings, the Sheriff’s Office has had a heightened presence in all county schools, while the Cobleskill PD has stepped up work with the two schools in the village, Ryder and Golding.
Sheriff Stevens and Chief Bialkowski see a resource officer not just as an armed guard, but also someone who’d interact with students.
“Maybe he’d participate in classes or walk the halls,” Sheriff Stevens said. “He’d talk with teachers.
“He’d build respect with young people.”
Chief Bialkowski agreed, adding that “anytime an officer can interact in a positive way with young people is great.”
Although officials at several schools said they’d welcome a resource officer, Sheriff Stevens stressed that any decision on school safety––an officer, metal detector and more––is up to school leaders themselves.
The question about a resource officer is money. All school budgets are tight this year, and even though state officials are discussing money for officers, the thought is that there would be a considerable local cost.
But sharing the cost might be possible. Chief Bialkowski said he’s talked with Cobleskill-Richmondville school board President Bruce Tryon about bringing in officers.
“We’re more than willing to pursue this with the village and school,” Chief Bialkowski said.
Because resource officers would work only during school months, maybe they could work for the county when school’s out, Sheriff Stevens said.
That way, the cost could be shared between the county and school districts.
If money is too tight, possibly school districts could share an officer, Sheriff Stevens said.
“Shared is better than none,” he said.
Presumably, Sheriff Stevens added, a single officer would cover several buildings in districts that have more than one school, such as C-R and Middleburgh.
Besides endorsing school resource officers, both men have had more discussions and training with school officials.
The Sheriff’s Office has done security audits, encouraged schools to have minimum exits and entrances, had lockdown drills and active shooter drills, Sheriff Stevens said.
“Our task is to help harden what’s seen as a soft target,” he added.
Chief Bialkowski is on C-R’s Threat Assessment Team and responded to a threat at Golding School just last week. (See related story.)
He’s also met with Golding Assistant Principal Jeff Klenk, is reviewing C-R’s new camera system and is working on off-site video access.
In another project, Chief Bialkowski is consulting with C-R’s buildings and grounds department to make sure all officers and vehicles have immediate access to schools.
For all law enforcement, school safety “has become our primary concern,” Sheriff Stevens said.
“We live in a nice area, where people are friendly,” he added, “and we never thought things like this could happen here.
“But they’re happening in communities just like ours.”