Bridgewater Looks To Beef Up School Protection

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — The township has introduced an ordinance to add three Class III special police officers to the roster for the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District's security program.

The ordinance was unanimously introduced at the Sept. 6 meeting and is awaiting the Board of Education approval.

"The school administration began discussions with the Township last year. We are currently working with them to leverage the new law and maintain (Special Law Enforcement Officers) throughout the district in support of the two (School Resource Officers) already working with us," said BRRSD Superintendent Russell Lazovick. "We hope to have this in place this fall."

Although the board met last night nothing was voted upon.

"The measure is not yet ready for BOE approval, thus there was no vote last night," said board President Jill Gladstone.

The officers would provide additional school security to the schools in the district and would be fully funded by the BOE.

Schools across the Garden State were given this option as of June 1 to serve as a lower-cost alternative, according to the New Jersey School Boards Association.

The three Class III Special Law Enforcement Officers would consist of retired police officers but have no official law enforcement powers or immunity.

The second and final reading of the ordinance will most likely be at the Sept. 27 meeting with a public hearing scheduled beforehand.

(Image via Shutterstock)

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