Platte County approves MOU to provide two school resource officers to district under split cost arrangement

Platte County commissioners approved an order July 7 to guarantee an agreement that places two school resource officers (SROs) in the Platte County School District.

Jeffrey Shanks, representing the Platte County Sheriff's Office, presented order 2025CO095 and said the overall budget impact is "$139,210 plus benefit equipment cost." He described the financing arrangement: the school district will pay 80% of each officer's salary and benefits for two deputies and will cover 50% of the civil equipment costs to outfit the officers.

Shanks told the commission that this district was the last remaining one in the county that did not have sheriff's deputies serving as SROs and had asked the sheriff's office to provide that coverage. He said the funds are contained in the current budget and that the sheriff's office will include the county's remaining share in the proposed 2026 budget because the school year runs July 1 to June 30.

The commission moved, seconded and approved the order on a 3-0 vote; the auditor reviewed and certified funds were available and county counselor reviewed the form.

Why it matters: The agreement places two deputies in schools to provide security and support; the county and district share cost responsibilities as described by the sheriff's office. The county presentation did not include job descriptions for the deputies or specific implementation dates.