North Hills Superintendent Details Armed Police Force Plans

ROSS TOWNSHIP, PA - North Hills School District Superintendent Patrick Mannarino said Friday that an armed district police force is necessary “in our current climate where schools continue to be targets for violent attacks.”

Mannarino sent an email to district families a day after school directors approved a resolution authorizing the creation of a force with armed officers patrolling district ground and buildings. In it, he detailed plans to add four new positions to augment the district’s existing security officers to create a seven-member force.

“A school police officer, who will carry a firearm, will be assigned to each elementary building, and three school police officers, including a supervisor, will be assigned to the secondary schools campus,” Mannarino said.

“These school police officers will patrol our school buildings during the school day and during after-school functions as assigned.”

The new positions will cost $228,000 in salaries and benefits. Additionally, the 2018-19 proposed final budget includes approximately $200,000 for a fund that will be used to pay for various safety and security enhancements as deemed necessary by school directors.

Under the state school code, the officers must be retired or current federal, state or municipal police officers. They must be trained and certified by the Pennsylvania State Police Academy or a municipal police training academy.

“As with all of our employees, we will only accept the best and most qualified candidates for these crucial positions,” Mannarino said. “I have worked collaboratively with Ross Township and West View police departments throughout my decision-making process. Both departments will lend their expertise to the district as we establish our hiring guidelines and they also will provide assistance and support during our hiring and interview processes.”

Image via Shutterstock.

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