Crime & Safety
Sheriff to Stop Providing Resource Officers to City Schools
The move takes effect next school year, impacting schools within the city limits of Sarasota and Venice.
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office will no longer provide resource officers at city schools starting next school year.
According to WWSB, the ABC affiliate, school resource officers will be removed from schools within city limits in Sarasota and Venice. Major Kevin Kenney told WWSB:
"It just makes sense from a safety, a security, from a tactical perspective."
Kenney said that police agencies within the two cities will need to provide the school resource officers.
Find out what's happening in Sarasotafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Under the existing system, a deputy is posted to every middle and high school in the county, except for North Port. The Sheriff's Office will continue providing the officers to schools in unincorporated areas.
The Sarasota County School Board has said that it is starting discussions with city police leaders.
Find out what's happening in Sarasotafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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