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Hiring begins for Sarasota's new School Resource Deputy II program

Credit: WTSP
Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight addressed media members on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018.

SARASOTA, Fla. -- When Sarasota’s elementary school students return from spring break on Monday they will see a law enforcement officer on campus for the remainder of the school year.

But what about next year?

The Sarasota sheriff’s office is hiring 14 men or women for its School Resource Deputy II Program. Do you have what they’re looking for and what these kids need?

“Right now we’re looking for certified law enforcement, primarily retired cops,” said Sarasota Sheriff Tom Knight.

The sheriff says the candidates will go through seven weeks of training.

"We’re going to train them in crisis intervention, active shooter, do CPR," he said. "We’re looking for someone who cares about children, wants to get back in a uniform and get great health benefits.”

The SRDII position pays $23.50 an hour, works 187 days a year and has the same days off as the students, but they are not like a traditional School Resource Officer.

“These will be purely security personnel," Knight said. "They’re not going to mentor, teach or interact with parents, be inside a classroom with students like typical SRO do. They’ll keep kids safe be on campus when the children are on campus. Be the eyes and ears on campus, be that deterrent, prevention and if something bad should happen be the one to make confrontation with the active shooter."

During a school board workshop, the superintendent said Knight would be willing to extend his program to elementary schools in the cities of North Port and Sarasota, but the sheriff says that was not part of his proposal.

“I want to see how the program works which is what you do with a new program make sure it works," Knight said. "If it does work and cities want the help that assistance, I would be sensitive to what the city police chief and city manager want. We’re here to help the district out and save the district money.”

According to the sheriff’s proposal, the SDRII program saves the school district $961,000 compared to traditional school resource officers. While the sheriff will pay for training and recruiting the district pays for salaries.

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