Chief Devin Hogie reports “We will receive $125,000 to utilize over the span of three years to help employ an extra APD officer. The officer will be hired to fill the role of School Resource Officer and will be working as a liason between our department and the Atlantic Community School District.” After the grant funding ends, the City and the School District must commit to funding the program for a fourth year.

“Our immediate focus,” Hugue says, “will be working with the school to finalize the needed agreements for this position and we hope to open this position for hire in the coming weeks.” Fund raising efforts for the SRO’s vehicle, equipment and uniform, continues. As we previously mentioned, Camblin Mechanical recently presented a check for $5,000 intended for the SRO fund. In addition, officials with the Trevor Frederickson Foundation donated $2,000, and the Elbow Room donated to the cause, as a way to thank the department for their help during RAGBRAI. Funds from an upcoming Atlantic Rotary Club Auction/Raffle will be added to the SRO position fund.

This past June, the City of Atlantic and the Atlantic Community School District agreed to collaborate on hiring a School Resource Officer. The School Resource Officer will be an employee of the City and a member of the Atlantic Police Department and will work in all of the school district’s buildings.