Beginning Monday, students in the City of Glendale's nine high schools have the reassuring presence of a police officer on campus.
Previously four of the high schools had officers.
The move was prompted by concerns over the February school shooting in Parkland, Florida and a rash of tips and threats reported to Glendale-area schools in the weeks that followed, said Glendale Police Chief Rick St. John.
“So now we have a response, and we’re responding quickly," St. John said.
The city previously relied on grants and district funds to provide officers at four high schools. The additional officers will be paid for using existing city funds, St. John said.
The SROs will have a multi-faceted role.
"My hope is they will be teaching on campuses,” St. John said. “Because I believe that helps develop relationships between teachers, students and faculty. Because really what they are is a conduit between the campus and everything going on in our city.”
But what about specialized training? A police beat involving hundreds of teenagers in an insulated environment is much different than a traditional neighborhood.
Glendale police say the SROs will attend continuous training that includes active shooter education, child crimes and investigations.