SYLACAUGA GETS RESOURCE OFFICER THROUGH COPS IN SCHOOL GRANT

Thanks to the Police Department and Police Chief Louis Zook, the Sylacauga
City School System is getting a new school resource officer through a COPS
in Schools grant. The school board officially accepted the grant Tuesday night.

Last May 9, the school system signed off on a grant application made by the
Police Department for a grant award for the new school resource officer.

The department was recently notified it was awarded the $103,000 grant. The
grant is for three years and pays for the salary and benefits of the officer.

The school board had to OK the grant so the Police Department could notify
the U.S. Department of Justice that it will accept it.

After the third year of the grant, the salary and benefits of the school
resource officer would be shared between the city and board.

Schools Superintendent Dr. Phil Hammonds recommended the board approve the
system participating in the COPS in Schools program.

The grant is funded through the Office of Community Oriented Policing
Services (COPS), Zook said.

Sylacauga was the only agency in the state to receive this award out of 280
in the country, he said.

The goals of the school resource officer of the Police Department and
school system are:

o To assist in providing a more safe and secure environment in schools,
especially through direct intervention and prevention of interpersonal
youth violence and drug use in one high school, one middle school and three
elementary schools.

o To create a greater respect for law and order in the public school system.

o To improve the attitude of the student body in areas of drug resistance,
alcohol avoidance, and civic responsibility by presenting education on
these issues.

o To increase the access of students to community agencies that offer
assistance to youths and their families for problems that require
professional help.

o To decrease the number of occurrences of substance abuse and possession,
theft, vandalism, weapons possession, fighting, harassment, and trespassing
during the school day and extracurricular activities.

o To promote open communication and mutual understanding between officials,
staff, students and parents of the city and police department regarding
crime intervention and prevention efforts.

o To enhance communication and collaboration between the residents and
businesses and police department to promote law and order surrounding schools.

Zook said 75 percent of the total hours worked by the officer will be
directly related to youth activities in and around in the schools.

Currently, Sylacauga has two part-time DARE officers, Willie Kidd and Mike
Gorman, in East Highland and Mountainview schools.

Zook said the new officer will be in all five schools in the system.

"I believe after three years, the school system will see the benefits and
this officer will make a difference," he said.

Karen Boyd, student services coordinator for the school system, praised
Zook for his efforts in getting the grant for the department and city schools.

"He is committed to our school system. I think this will put us ahead of
others in the state in addressing problems such as fighting, weapon
possession, vandalism, drug possession, truancy, threats or intimidation
and more," Boyd said.

In the 1999-2000 school incident report, the school system had 39 reports
of defiance of authority, 24 reports of fighting, and 18 reports of assault
among a total of 135 incidents. These incidents, the report said, led to
the suspension of 159 students and the expulsion of one, out of a student
population of some 2,275.

Zook said the police officer funded through this program will enhance and
expand the ongoing community-policing activities of the Police Department.

"By participating in the schools, the school resource officer can build
important relationships with teachers, students and parents. These members
of the community play an important part in the fight to reduce crime and
disorder problems not only in our schools but throughout the community,"
Zook said.