Odell States that School Security is a Top Priority

Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell and the Putnam County Legislature have been working with the local school superintendents to ensure that the school resource officer program (SRO program) continues throughout the county. In the last three weeks Odell has met with officials from the school districts in the county to reinforce the benefits of this shared service program.

“School security is top priority for my administration and has been a priority since my days on the Legislature when I was the chair of the Protective Services Committee,” said Odell. “We continue to work with the schools, law enforcement and the extremely qualified mental health professionals in Putnam County to protect our students and our residents. The SRO program is an important component of our work. It provides safety, security and wellbeing at our schools as well as for the community.”

She added. “An SRO has invaluable information that is transferred to the respective local law enforcement agency and can be used in investigations. It is important that the partnership between the county and the school districts to continues for the SRO program.”

Chairman of the Legislature Joseph Castellano, is an advocate of the SRO program as well. “Having the SRO program provides the schools and law enforcement agencies an opportunity to be proactive instead of reactive,” said Leg. Castellano. “They have a chance to identify potential issues, defuse conflicts and provide resources to assist people to get the help they need. In addition, the SRO onsite and is ready to protect the students and staff from any situation that may arise.”

A school resource officer is a uniformed certified law enforcement officer who is assigned full time to a school through the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.

“The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to the SRO Program and continues to work with the County Executive and the Legislators to maintain the SRO Program. It is the position of the Sheriff’s Office to put the safety of our community first.” said Sheriff Robert L. Langley Jr. “I would like to remind everyone- if they hear something or see something say something. Never dismiss what our children and others are saying to us no matter how insignificant one may think it to be.”

The SRO works in the school as an educator, law enforcer and counselor. Their primary responsibility is to protect the school’s safe environment and to maintain an atmosphere where students, teachers and staff feel safe enough to learn.

“Recent events in Florida haunt each of us,” said Mahopac School Superintendent Dennis Creedon. “Mahopac Schools' partnership with Putnam County in supporting our School Resource Officers is an excellent example of shared civic responsibility. Together we strive to ensure our students' wellbeing and safety, so they can focus on their academics.”

Carmel School Superintendent Andy Irving agrees. “I have been a proponent of the SRO program (and the recipient of the benefits of) for over 15 years,” Irving said. “There is no single development in school safety and security that has had a greater impact than the SRO program. With that said the benefits go way beyond school safety and security.”

The SRO program has been in effect throughout the Putnam County school districts since 1996. There is at least one SRO in the Brewster, Carmel, Haldane, Mahopac and Putnam Valley school districts. The county and the individual school districts share the cost of respective officer. The Brewster School District has three officers; one the district is completely financially responsible for.

County Executive Odell wants the public to know that Putnam County Government and our schools will continue to work with our State and Federal representatives to make sure parents are able to send their children to school everyday knowing it is a safe environment and they are protected by well trained members of our Sheriff’s Department.

 

B
Submitted by Brewster, NY

Become a Local Voice in Your Community!

HamletHub invites you to contribute stories, events, and more to keep your neighbors informed and connected.

Read Next