FOLSOM – October 24 – Effective Monday, the Folsom Police Department will withdraw two officers assigned to the School Resource Officer (SRO) positions due to school district budget problems.
The Folsom Cordova Unified School District (FCUSD) faced severe budget cuts to education funding, including elimination of the SRO program.
In June this year, Police Chief Sam Spiegel addressed the school board expressing urgency and concern for continuing the program. As the State budget had not been finalized, FCUSD Board approved a budget that eliminated many programs, including the School Resource Officer Program. Though the State budget was adopted in September, there was insufficient funding to restore the SRO program and many other programs.
While the SROs provided coverage to all schools in the City of Folsom, they were based at Folsom High School with a student population of 2200 students. The SROs provided intervention, counseling, and mentoring to the student population in addition to investigating criminal complaints.
The Officers will be reassigned to field operations to provide much needed coverage throughout the City of Folsom. Future calls for service at the schools will be prioritized with all other calls and assigned as personnel are available.
Folsom Police said they will continue to work hand in hand with the School District on matters of mutual interest.
