City, school seek grant for additional ‘resource officer’

By LESTER MURRAYnews2@kilgorenewsherald.com

Richard Stanley, school resource officer for the Kilgore Independent School District, talks with Katie Whitmer, (left) and Katie Joiner, eighth graders at Maude Laird Middle School, during Career Day yesterday. Functions like this one is just one of many duties Stanley is involved in for the students of KISD.

Kilgore Independent School District, with the City of Kilgore, is looking to add an additional school resource officer.

Ronnie Moore, chief of police for the city, said the department has applied for a grant under the JT-Title V Delinquency Prevention Act Fund Program in the amount of $40,000 for the additional position.

“Richard Stanley is doing a great job but with all he is asked to do he needs more help,” said Moore. “Stanley handles all the criminal complaints for the school district plus gives safety lectures, handles the KYSSED program and many other additional duties.”

Stanley, the current school resource officer for the school district, works full time for the school during the nine-month school year for KISD and then works normal police duties for the Kilgore Police Department the rest of the year.

Jerry Roberts, KISD superintendent, said the push to add an additional resource officer is purely financial. “The school district now hires police officers to work security for the school district, in addition to Stanley’s position,” said Roberts. “With the grant position, one security position can be eliminated, reducing the amount KISD is paying per year for security.”

Roberts said the school district will only pay a portion — about $15,000 — of the salary for the new position.

“Besides the savings on funding, the new resource officer will be able to do the same duties as Stanley now covers, giving him the assistance he needs and freeing Stanley up to do additional projects for the school district,” said Roberts. “The security positions the school district employs are just that, security. With the new officer the school district will be getting so much more for its money.”

Moore said the paperwork for the grant has already been filed after the Kilgore City Commission passed a resolution authorizing the city manager to do so. “It will probably be a couple of months until we know for sure about approval for the grant,” said Moore. “If the grant is approved, the police department will look internally first to fill this position and if no one shows interest the department will look at outside applicants.”

Moore said his biggest concern about filling this position is finding a police officer that wants to work with kids. “Stanley is doing a great job now and we want the second officer to reflect the same cares and concerns for the position that Stanley does,” said Moore.

Stanley said he would certainly appreciate the help. “I have seven campuses to cover and a great number of students and facility that fall under my care,” said Stanley. “With additional help there will be so much more this position can accomplish.”