AG requests $10 million for school protection

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Thursday was the first day back to class for dozens of students who survived a mass school shooting in Connecticut.

While that tragedy prompted many states to take a closer look at their school security, officials in Indiana were already considering a plan for change. State Attorney General Greg Zoeller and Sen. Pete Miller of Avon are requesting $10 million to place more law enforcement in Indiana's schools.

A bill introduced Thursday would let schools request money to hire resource officers.

“In light of the recent tragic events in Connecticut, we know school safety is a subject parents and the public are very concerned about,” Zoeller said. “In a needs assessment researching school safety last fall, educators and law enforcement leaders indicated they would like to make school resource officers available in more schools. Many have asked, ‘What can Indiana do now to enhance school safety?’ And this is something legislators can do early in 2013.”

This proposal would grant funding for districts who want to partner with local law enforcement agencies for resource officers. Those officers serve as mentors and help prevent juvenile delinquency.         

Any school corporation or charter school could apply for a state grant of up to $50,000 a year, for two years.

To qualify for the grant, a school corporation would have to pay a portion of the officer costs that, when combined with the portion paid by local law enforcement would equal 50 percent of the total cost. The bill also says a school resource officer may be employed through a contract between local law enforcement agencies or by a school corporation.

Carmel Clay schools are among the districts across the state that has resource officers. About one third of school districts rely on the program.

DJ Schoeff, a resource officer in Carmel, welcomes the proposal but says everyone can't do the job.

Schoeff also serves on the board the National Association of School Resource officers.

“The National Association of School Resource officers are in full support of properly trained police officers inside schools,” Schoeff said. “The single biggest deterrent for serious acts of violence inside schools is a school resource officer on the campus.”