TITLE:
title
AGREEMENT FOR A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM BETWEEN THE CITY OF COSTA MESA AND NEWPORT-MESA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027
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DEPARTMENT: POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESENTED BY: MICHELLE BRADBURY, LIEUTENANT
CONTACT INFORMATION: MICHELLE BRADBURY – 714.754.5675
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council:
Approve the agreement for a School Resource Officer (SRO) Program between the City of Costa Mesa and Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) for Fiscal Year 2026-27.
Authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement.
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BACKGROUND:
In 2001, the Costa Mesa Police Department began an SRO Program with NMUSD. The program consisted of two full-time police officers to staff Costa Mesa’s two high schools and one intermediate school. The program was viewed as a tremendous success and a benefit to all parties involved.
Since then, the City and NMUSD have entered into annual agreements in connection with the SRO Program. In September 2022, the Department committed a third officer to the SRO Program, which was outlined in the SRO Program agreement for FY 2023-24.
ANALYSIS:
Since the inception of the SRO Program, the primary mission of the SROs has been to prevent and deter school violence before it strikes. SROs help mitigate problems that might otherwise require an emergency call for police services, thereby reducing the burden on Patrol Services and protecting those in a learning environment. SROs accomplish this by their presence on campus and regular interaction with school staff and students. In addition, SROs are a resource for students to report potential issues, which the SROs can proactively address and mitigate.
SROs are present on school campuses to ensure the safety and security of our schools. SROs respond to and handle all criminal acts occurring on school campuses or in the immediate vicinity. In this respect, SROs conduct the initial investigation on a variety of crimes such as ch...
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