Mar
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Whitewater Common Council Values Safe Schools
March 10, 2020 | Leave a Comment
Approves Grant Application for Full-Time School Officers
The Whitewater Common Council approved the police department for a grant application to hire four new School Resource Officers for the Whitewater Unified School District.
The Whitewater Common Council meeting Tuesday was routine but not unnoteworthy. The Council unanimously voted to approve authorization for the Whitewater Police Department to submit a grant application for the COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The 2020 program, according to a memo reviewed by the Council, is a federal grant “designed to advance public safety through community policing by addressing the full-time sworn officer needs of state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies nationwide.” The city of Whitewater public schools have only one School Resource Officer (SRO) at this time. The program’s proposed grant would allow the department to hire one SRO per school (elementary, middle, high) so that there is always an officer on duty at all five schools.
Concern was raised over the increase in calls for police services during school hours primarily by the Whitewater Middle School. Job demands of the single SRO are inefficient and ineffective since one officer cannot be in multiple locations at one time handling 1,939 total students.
Whitewater deputy chief of police Daniel Meyer said, “there was a much greater need for our services,” responding to councilman James Allen.
Allen cited the increase in calls by 459 calls in 2019 and wanted to know what the cause of the increase was. Meyer did not have exact metrics for call or case calculations.
Councilman Allen said, “I’m not a proponent of adding members to our police department.”
However, Allen went on to say that because the amount paid by the city and school district is minimal, there is not a better time for the department to apply for the grant.
“We need police officers in our schools and with so many calls our SRO is tied down being reactionary,” said Allen.
Allen pointed out that it is better to be prepared and proactive in light of recent years’ events taking place in public schools across the United States.
Additionally, the Urban Forestry Committee presented retired streets and parks superintendent and city forester, Chuck Nass with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
During his tenure, Nass was responsible for the management of trees in and around Whitewater. Trees are not often thought about by the average citizen, but they are a symbol of city vitality and promote beauty wherever they grow. Part of the management includes the safe maintaining of trees by trimming them and checking for parasites within the roots and bark. If such ailments are discovered, they must be dealt with in a procedural manner.
“Chuck Nass has demonstrated true leadership. It was a very easy nomination to make. He’s leaving quite a legacy,” said Dwayne Sperber, a member of the Urban Forestry Council.
Nass’s duties also included the overseeing of Whitewater’s parks and green spaces. Nass and his colleagues have worked hard to make Whitewater a destination and a beautiful green home for its residents.
Other Agenda Items:
- Library Director presentation of 2019 Annual Library Report.
- Parks and Recreation Director update on Cravath Lakefront amphitheater project, construction began early (Feb. 25), projected June completion.
- Council approved the request for the purchase of an automatic valve turner for the Water Department.
- Discussion of a possible return to the common council’s original agenda format.
- Approval of police department radio services 2020 Radicom contract.