Police Officers Back In Petaluma Schools

PETALUMA, CA — Two Petaluma police officers have been appointed to serve as school resource officers beginning this week, the Petaluma Police Department and Petaluma Unified School District announced. Although officers previously served at Casa Grande and Petaluma high schools, the program was discontinued in 2008 because of lack of funding, Petaluma police Lt. Ron Klein said in a news release.

"Budgetary constraints and staffing reductions at the police department in 2008 caused the SRO program to be eliminated," Klein said. "The program was started back up with an officer in 2013 for 4 months at Petaluma High School however had to be stopped again due to staffing shortages. It has always been the desire of the Petaluma Police Department to place officers back in the schools however the funding simply has not existed."

Now, the Petaluma Unified School District has secured a California Department of Justice grant, which fully funds the two positions for two years.

According to Klein, the Petaluma Police Department was contacted in June by Assistant Superintendent Dave Rose, who advised that the district had procured the funding.

The grant, which is funded by the state tobacco sales tax, can be extended annually if grant objectives are attained. The grant also funds educational opportunities within the community and the schools, specifically of the dangers of using tobacco.

"This was amazing news however the Petaluma Police Department is still suffering a staffing shortage with only 61 sworn officer positions filled of the 66 the department is allocated," Klein said. "While the Petaluma Police Department has 61 sworn officers on staff that number also includes officers out on industrial injuries and officers in training who are not operating as solo officers yet further depleting the available resources."

After careful consideration, PPD decided it "was too great of an opportunity to place officers back into our schools and staffing changes were made," Klein said.

Two senior officers, Dan Miller and John Antonio, were chosen for the SRO roles. Officer Miller has been assigned to Petaluma High, while Antonio will serve at Casa Grande High.

Both have previously served as SROs and have repeatedly been recognized for their work within the community, especially their work with the youth of Petaluma, Klein said.

"Officer Antonio has spent over 10 years involved in local football programs as well as coaching at various high schools," Klein said. "Officer Miller has done the same with baseball including coaching the varsity Baseball Team at Casa Grande High School for several years."

The officers will assist with issues at other schools within the school district as time allows.

"Not only will having School Resource Officers on campus assist in securing both Petaluma and Casa Grande High Schools the assigned officers will also support and participate in all school safety planning to include emergency response drills and related activities," Klein said.

"The safety of Petaluma’s Campuses is at the top of the Petaluma Police Department’s priority list ... This partnership will undoubtedly benefit not only students, faculty and families but the community as a whole."

Photos courtesy Petaluma Police Department