Robbinsdale District Takes Step Towards Returning Police to Golden Valley Schools
The Robbinsdale School District is one step closer to placing a police officer back into two Golden Valley schools when classes resume in the fall.
This week, the Golden Valley City Council reviewed plans that would put a School Resource Officer into the building that houses Sandburg Middle School and the Robbinsdale Academy-Highview alternative program.
“[The School Resource Officer] is not just gonna be there for enforcement, but to be there as part of the fabric of the school,” said Golden Valley Police Chief Virgil Green. “To assist the principals, assist the teachers and build that relationship with those students that, obviously, they need to have some other type of a relationship with law enforcement to see that they can trust law enforcement.”
Golden Valley Police Chief Virgil Green says the School Resource Officer position should be filled by someone who “has an extensive background in a school resource officer program” and not by somebody who worked patrol for 10 to 12 years.
Police Chief Says School Resource Officer is A Safety Need
Golden Valley hasn’t identified which officer they’ll place into the building. Green says they may need to hire somebody from outside to fill that role, but the goal would be to hire a person that has experience working with students. The department currently has 13 sworn officers on staff, with several more officers arriving in the upcoming weeks, according to Green.
Meanwhile, a police accountability commission in Golden Valley raised concerns about placing an armed officer inside a building that’s predominantly non-white. Green says the program is all about safety.
“It’s just part of the equipment that we wear,” Green said, referring to officers’ firearms. “But at the same time, if there is an active shooter, you would want to have a police officer there in that building who has the resources to take that threat down, and not to have an unarmed person who absolutely has no ability to stop that threat.”
About half the cost of the School Resource Officer program would be funded by the district through a “safe schools levy.” The Robbinsdale School District would pay Golden Valley $56,652.21 in exchange for the services.
The Golden Valley City Council will look to finalize the agreement at its meeting on Aug. 2.
Related: Golden Valley Looks to Hire Police from Other Cities to Fill Staffing Needs
