Following the county Board of Education s lengthy discussion about school resource officers earlier this month, Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins is defending the program and seeking to clarify its mission.
The Frederick County Sheriff s Office provides one lieutenant, one sergeant, two corporals and 11 deputies to the SRO program, including SRO assignments at schools in Frederick city at Frederick High, Gov. Thomas Johnson High and Heather Ridge School. SROs and other deputies conduct safety checks at other schools, as well.
Frederick and Brunswick police departments also provide SROs to the district.
On Dec. 9, the school board voted 5-2 to accept a $168,000 grant from the Maryland Center for School Safety. From that discussion, Jenkins found fault with the way board members defined the responsibilities of SROs and the board s decision to seek a grant he believes they didn t need in the first place.