School Resource Officer Returning To East Windsor Schools

EAST WINDSOR, CT — East Windsor is moving to restore its school resource officer program after police staffing shortages forced the town to suspend it for the 2025-26 school year.

The Board of Selectmen’s Oct. 1 agenda called for members to discuss and vote on a new agreement between the town, Police Department and school system accompanying the reinstatement of the officer.

Minutes from the meeting had not been posted as of Monday, so the board’s vote was not immediately available.

The Police Department’s website lists Officer Lindsey Valencia as the town’s school resource officer. The department says the officer rotates among Broad Brook Elementary School, East Windsor Middle School and East Windsor High School.

The role includes working with students and staff, conducting classroom presentations, helping with investigations and participating in community programs involving young people, according to the department.

The program was suspended before the start of the 2025-26 school year. In a June 2025 letter included in a Board of Education meeting packet, Police Chief Matthew Carl said the department could not spare the staffing needed for a dedicated school officer.

“This was a difficult decision that was not made lightly,” Carl wrote. “Due to ongoing personnel challenges within the department, we are unable to dedicate the appropriate staffing required to continue the program at this time.”

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Carl said at the time that the suspension would not change the department’s response to emergencies or its commitment to providing police services at the schools. He also said the department would review its staffing and reconsider the program while preparing for the 2026-27 budget.

The agreement spells out the officer’s role and responsibilities. The school district says state law requires school boards that assign an officer to enter into an agreement with the local police agency.

East Windsor officials have previously voiced support for the program. When selectmen approved an earlier agreement in 2022, then-Selectman Sarah Muska said she was “glad to see we have a School Resource Officer” and added that “the community needs it,” according to meeting records.

No opposition from residents was included in the materials posted with the Oct. 1 agenda. The meeting minutes, which would show any public comments made that night, remain pending.

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