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August 24,2021 Page 8 of 10 <br /> 5 Ayes,0 Nays-Motion Carried <br /> 4.Consider Approval <br /> 4. Consider Approval of Agreement between the City of New Brighton and of Agreement between <br /> Mounds View School District for School Resource Officers (SRO). the City of New <br /> Brighton and Mounds <br /> View School District <br /> City Manager Massopust reported this agreement was long-standing with the Mounds View School District for School Resource <br /> since 1994.He explained the school district approved their end of the contract and was slated to begin Officers(SRO). <br /> September 1,2021. <br /> Councilmember Abdulle stated he pulled this item from the Consent Agenda because he had a lot of <br /> questions regarding the background of School Resource Officers. He commented he loved the approach the <br /> Public Safety Department took to build community trust while focusing on prevention.He questioned how a <br /> uniformed officer increased safety for students and how SROs were tied to the City's initiatives.He wanted to <br /> know how SROs were tied to the City's diversity,equity and inclusion goals.He explained that some of the <br /> population has different realities when interacting with police officers. He stated he wanted to bring more <br /> transparency to this item for the public,versus just approving this matter on the Consent Agenda.He asked <br /> what type of incidents SROs respond to at the school.He commented he did not want the school to prison <br /> pipeline to continue. City Manager Massopust reported the Public Safety Department has been asked by the <br /> School District to provide an officer because they see value in this. He explained staff could provide answers <br /> as to why the City sees value,but he did now know what the school board was thinking.He indicated the <br /> school district saw great value in having SROs in their schools. <br /> Public Safety Director Paetznick discussed the history of school based policing in New Brighton.He <br /> explained school based policing has been in place since the 1994-1995 school year.He noted three full-time <br /> officers have been allocated to schools within the Mounds View School District.He commented on the <br /> number of students within the district and noted the SROs have 165 days per year to have positive interactions <br /> with these students.He reported this pays dividends when considering these interactions begin at age five and <br /> run through age 18. He indicated the impact of these positive relationships was serving the community well <br /> even after these students graduate.He commented on the law enforcement role the SROs have in the schools. <br /> He reported his department always has officers willing to serve within the schools.He described how the <br /> SROs served the community and its students during COVID.He reported the school manages all disciplinary <br /> situations while SRO's address criminal or emergency situations. He discussed how the number of juvenile <br /> arrests has decreased over the years noting it was not the departments goal to put juveniles into the system but <br /> rather was working to provide a safe and secure learning environment.He commented further on how SRO's <br /> work to educate students. He noted how the demographics within the community were changing and <br /> explained SRO's work to recruit officers that properly reflect the community. <br /> Councilmember Abdulle thanked staff for the detailed report He commented on how SROs were positively <br /> affecting the reduction of arrests of minors and asked for further information as to what was contributing to <br /> this.Public Safety Director Paetznick stated there were a number of factors.He noted the SROs had a positive <br /> impact,along with Community Partners with Youth(CPY)which was an organization focused on juvenile <br /> delinquency in the after school hours. He reported crime was always a concern,but noted the department was <br /> never going to arrest its way out of it.Rather,the department worked to educate youth so that they make <br /> better choices and engage in more positive behaviors inside and outside of school. <br /> Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas requested further information on how the SROs were being used to build <br /> leadership.Public Safety Director Paetznick explained he liked to have his officers begin on patrol and then <br /> move to an SRO,community service officer,or detective position because this provides a broader perspective <br /> on policing,especially from a supervisory position.He stated as a smaller organization,those opportunities to <br /> do something different can be attractive to candidates as well. <br /> Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas stated it may be helpful for the Councilmembers to receive a tour from the SROs to <br /> see how they are engaging with students on a daily basis.She commented on her experience with SROs and <br /> she discussed how valuable the SROs were to the school staff members,especially when considering active <br /> shooter events.She understood the school district truly valued its SROs and thanked Director Paetznick for <br /> his strong leadership and guidance. <br /> Councilmember Dunsworth explained she was in favor of the SROs being in the schools. She believed it was <br />