School resource officers funded at 2 Apache Junction elementary schools
Special to Independent Newsmedia, Arianna Grainey
Apache Junction Unified School District is to pay the city $139,671.79 plus an increase of up to 10% per year for each SRO who provides services each fiscal year, it states in the agreement.
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Traditionally they don’t do elementary schools but they have agreed to provide school resource officers to our elementary students. So with the increase in teen violence in the Valley, I think getting education and a relationship with our children earlier than later is very important. So I am very excited about this.”
Cmdr. Cindy Ewer, who oversees Apache Junction Police Department’s school resource officer program
The city of Apache Junction is adding school resource officers at two elementary schools for nearly $140,000 each, funded by an Arizona Department of Education grant.
The Apache Junction City Council voted unanimously May 21 on a consent agenda with other items to approve an intergovernmental agreement with Apache Junction Unified School District for the school resource officers.
AJUSD is to pay the city $139,671.79 plus an increase of up to 10% per year for each SRO who provides services each fiscal year, it states in the agreement.
“As you all know, we are committed to the safety of our students here in Apache Junction and with that we have committed to providing a school resource officer to any of the schools in Apache Junction that request it,” said Cmdr. Cindy Ewer, who oversees Apache Junction Police Department’s school resource officer program, which is part of the criminal investigations division, during a May 20 work session. “So we’ve been working with the unified school district here that has requested to get a school resource officer at our two elementary schools that they oversee — which would be Desert Vista Elementary and Four Peaks Elementary.”
Beginning in the 2024-25 school year — and continuing until June 30, 2029 — SROs will be at Four Peaks, 1785 N. Idaho Road, and Desert Vista, 3701 E. Broadway Ave., both in Apache Junction, it states in the agreement.
Peralta Trail Elementary, 10965 E. Peralta Road in Gold Canyon, in unincorporated Pinal County, is in the agreement but funding has not yet been obtained.
“They also have Peralta Trail, which is something that we’re looking into for the future but right now we’ve got two slated positions that are being funded by the department of education in the excess of $139,000 that will pay for the salaries of those employees and the benefits. So really we’re getting two officers that are going to be stationed at both of those schools for the next school year and then they will also receive benefits that are being paid for through this grant,” Ewer said.
The city in 2022 entered into an agreement with AJUSD for SROs at Apache Junction High School, 2525 S. Ironwood Drive, and Cactus Canyon Junior High School, 801 W. Southern Ave., both in Apache Junction, to assist in the development and implementation of a school safety and educational program. Those are also paid for by grants and are to continue to be funded.
Funding is also already in place for an SRO at Apache Trail High School, a charter school at 945 W. Apache Trail in Apache Junction.
Funding is being sought to have an SRO at Imagine Prep Superstition, a charter school at 1843 W. 16th Ave. in Apache Junction. That grant could include Peralta Trail and Superstition Mountain Elementary School, 550 S. Ironwood Drive in Apache Junction, Ewer said.
“(Y)ou can’t invest enough on our youth. It is absolutely critical that police officers be on campus. Not only for safety, but building those longterm relationships with these kids so that they have a good person they can go to and talk to and get educated by. So I love this,” Councilmember Bryan Soller said during the work session.
Younger students should have positive interactions with law-enforcement, Ewer said.
“Traditionally they don’t do elementary schools but they have agreed to provide school resource officers to our elementary students. So with the increase in teen violence in the Valley, I think getting education and a relationship with our children earlier than later is very important. So I am very excited about this,” she said.
“I applaud you folks for pushing this and getting this done,” Councilmember Peter Heck said at the work session.
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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