When Lassiter Middle School opens up their doors for the new school year, they're gonna be missing something they've had in years past: a school resource officer. JCPS are short two resource officers for the new school year.
"The officers create a different environment," says Andrea Jackson, Lassiter's principal. "People just feel real safe knowing they are around and one thing our officer did, he created good relationships with the kids."
The school resource officer that was at Lassiter Middle School recently retired and the one at Iroquois Middle School was relocated. Most of the officers are Louisville Metro Police officers.
The Louisville Metro Police department finds the best officers to work in the schools. They say the vacancies came up suddenly, so the schools will have to start the year without resource officers.
"The SRO program is a priority and we are gonna fill those positions and the allocation of the manpower will probably be adjusted a little bit based on where these officers are coming in from," says Lt. Barry Madden of Metro Police.
Louisville Metro Police have changed their requirements for school resource officers. Before they had to have three years' experience with the department. Now they only have to have one year. They hope that opens up the door for more applicants who could work with children in schools.
Last year JCPS had nine resource officers. This year, once everyone is hired they will have 12: Six in high schools and six in middle schools.