City to put RPD officer in as SRO in city schools
Three school resource officers had their contracts renewed by the Russellville City Council at Monday’s regular meeting – Donny Aycock, Cary Hitt and Danny Price. But with Capt. Wyman Pounders retiring from being an SRO, the city took the opportunity to move in a slightly different direction: the council voted to hire an additional police officer to enable the Russellville Police Department to place one of its officers in the schools as SRO.
“There’s a lot of advantages,” Chief Chris Hargett said. Among those are the likelihood of the SRO being younger, more energetic and more active in the school; the place allowing the officers to better learn the schools’ layouts; and the opportunity for students to become better acquainted with RPD officers.
Hargett said officers would be placed on SRO assignment on a temporary, rotating basis, which will prevent burnout and allow children to become familiarized with multiple officers.
The council voted to declare a vacancy for police officer and hire from the existing list and ask the Civil Service Board to add an additional name to the list.
The council also:
– approved a resolution authorizing NACOLG to administer Project #SM-CE-PF-15-027, Hal Kirby Jr. Park Grant.
– voted to seek bids from local banks for fire truck financing.
– approved a sealed bid on a Ford 555D New Holland Backhoe.
– approved a request from the Russellville City Schools Foundation Board of Directors to waive the A.W. Todd Centre rental fee on April 18, 2016, for their annual fundraiser.
– heard a complaint from Sharon Hill.
– appointed Boyce Porter to the Civil Service Board.
– appointed Dexter Hamilton to the Russellville Electric Board.
Mayor David Grissom appointed a committee to work with NACOLG as Russellville continues downtown redevelopment: Heather Willis, downtown business owner; Kim Purdue, downtown business owner; Cassie Medley, chamber director; Charlie Canida, downtown homeowner and Russellville Electric Board; Jamie Harris, council member; Matt Cooper, CB&S Bank; and Chase Sparks, downtown homeowner and member of the Roxy board.
The first meeting will be in January.
