The Goodyear City Council voted Monday, Aug. 24 to approve agreements with Agua Fria Union High School District to provide school resource officers for Desert Edge and Millenium high schools during the 2021 academic year.
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EDUCATION
Goodyear approves school resource officer agreements
City, Agua Fria UHSD to share program costs
Posted
WHAT DO SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS DO?
Goodyear’s school resource officers work with school administrators, faculty, staff and students to ensure everyone’s safety on campus. They investigate crimes on campus, patrol surrounding neighborhoods and participate in activities that include classroom presentations on youth alcohol, traffic safety, drug prevention and distracted driving; career days and active shooter drills. They coordinate and teach GPD’s annual summer Teen Academy, and assist with the department’s Police Explorer and Shop with a Cop Programs.
The Goodyear City Council voted Monday, Aug. 24, to approve agreements with Agua Fria Union High School District to provide school resource officers for Desert Edge and Millenium high schools during the 2021 academic year.
Under the agreements, the city and school district will split the cost of each resource officer’s hourly pay rate and benefits equally for the 10-month academic year, with the city covering 100% during officers’ vacations, school breaks and holidays, when the officers will perform city-related duties.
The district will cover 100% of overtime costs for school-related investigations, provide officers a workspace on campus and pay $500 for each officer to receive and maintain certification through the National Association of School Resources.
Goodyear Police Department Public Information Officer Lisa Berry introduced both officers on GPD’s Facebook page, providing a brief bio and photo of each.
Officer Nick Roberts, assigned to Desert Edge High School, 15778 W. Yuma Road, has worked as an school resource officer for 3 1/2 years, Ms. Berry wrote.
“He says his favorite thing about his assignment is watching the kids grow and mature through the years,” she wrote.
Mr. Roberts asked her to share his favorite quote from President Thomas Jefferson with students and their families: “I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.”
Officer Josh Olson, assigned to Millenium High School, 14802 W, Wigwam Blvd., is beginning his second year as an school resource officer.
“His favorite thing about being a school resource officer is the interaction with students and staff and being another resource for the youth in our schools,” Ms. Berry wrote. “His favorite quote that he wants to share with students is, ‘However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at!’”
Kelly O’Sullivan can be reached at kosullivan@newszap.com or 760-963-1697.
Kelly O’Sullivan News Editor | Litchfield Park& Goodyear @AzNewsmedia
Kelly O’Sullivan is a longtime journalist who joined Independent Newsmedia in January 2020, after returning to the Valley from Twentynine Palms, California, where she worked for eight years as a communications specialist for the U.S. Marine Corps. When she’s not covering stories of interest to Litchfield Park, Goodyear and other Southwest Valley residents, she stays busy rediscovering Arizona and photographing its spectacular landscapes and wildlife.