Committee advances temporary SRO memorandum of understanding to council consent calendar

Acting Deputy Chief Ken Driver told the committee the department temporarily removed one school-resource officer from schools on Feb. 19 to cover patrol staffing shortages and that even with reassignments the department remains short on patrol staffing.

Driver described the memorandum of understanding before the committee and said it was negotiated as the department balances patrol needs and school coverage. A staff speaker explained the temporary financial arrangement: when fully staffed the program typically has two SRO positions (one funded by the city, one by the school district); with the temporary reduction the school district will pay half of the remaining one officer's time until the department returns to full staffing levels.

Responding to concerns and online misinformation, the Mayor pro tem clarified that the action is temporary and "we are not defunding the police department." After discussion, a motion to place the MOU with the Tumwater School District regarding temporary reduction of SRO staffing on the March 17 consent calendar was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.

The placement on the consent calendar means the council will consider the memorandum on March 17; staff said the arrangement will return to the normal contract level when full staffing is restored.