TWC News: West Seneca to Receive State Security Resource Officer Funding

By: Meg Rossman
11/10/2014 04:53 PM

WEST SENECA, N.Y. -- Security at the West Seneca Central School District got a boost Monday with the announcement of state funding for the district's school resource officer program. The funding included in this year's state budget means an additional $25,000 for SRO services in the district's 10 buildings.

State Senator Pat Gallivan made the announcement Monday at West Elementary School, which is one of the schools to benefit from the program.

About $1.9 million was allocated in the state's budget for SRO funding statewide in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook shooting; $300,000 of it coming to four counties in Western New York.

The funding will help ensure the continued presence of five trained police officers who officials say offer much more than law enforcement services in the West Seneca Central School District and others like it across the region.

"Help in decision-making, help students going in the right direction, mentoring, giving advice, working with the administration school safety, school security plans, working with all of the employees and everybody that's actually a part of the community," said state Sen. Gallivan, R-Elma. 

West Seneca's SRO program started as a pilot in 2002 with only two officers. It's since grown to five full-time officers with additional funding coming from the town and school board.

Thirteen districts total will benefit from this latest round of funding.

- See more at: http://buffalo.twcnews.com/content/news/784295/west-seneca-to-receive-state-security-resource-officer-funding/#sthash.xgZIGdd4.dpuf

See more at: http://buffalo.twcnews.com/content/news/784295/west-seneca-to-receive-state-security-resource-officer-funding/#sthash.xgZIGdd4.dpuf