Crime & Safety
School Resource Officers Set To Return To Gilroy Schools: Report
The city council voted 5-2 to fund the return of police officers on campus after the contracts were not renewed for this school year.
GILROY, CA — School resource officers (SROs) are set to return to the two high schools of the Gilroy Unified School District after the city council approved funding for positions at its meeting Monday, according to the Gilroy Dispatch.
The council voted 5-2 to pay half of the $483,383 contract for the program. The contracts for the school district's two SROs had not been renewed this year, the Dispatch reported.
Officials described an increase in fights this school year as students return to in-person learning.
Find out what's happening in Gilroyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
There have been 84 incidents at the high schools this year involving "fights, alcohol/drugs or other incidents that resulted in disciplinary action," according to district data.
There were 50 incidents during 2019-20, which was shortened due to the pandemic, and 106 incidents the previous year.
Find out what's happening in Gilroyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Councilmembers Rebeca Armendariz and Zach Hilton voted against the funding. Hilton said that the cost was excessive, according to the Dispatch.
Read more in the Gilroy Dispatch here.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
