Manhattan Schools To Get School Resource Officer

MANHATTAN, IL — In an effort to increase security and safety, the Manhattan Police Department will dedicate a full-time police officer to Manhattan schools, according to Manhattan Police Chief Jeff Wold.

The school resource officer, or SRO, will patrol all three Manhattan School District 114 schools —Anna McDonald School, Wilson Creek School and Manhattan Junior High — Wold said. It is expected that the SRO will be at each of the three schools at some point of each school day beginning at the start of next school year, which begins in the fall.

“Thanks to the Village Board hiring more police officers, we now have the ability to offer a trained, full-time officer to our Manhattan schools,” Wold said. “This has been in the works since our strategic planning workshop in January and was included in this year’s Village budget.”

A current Manhattan police officer will assume the SRO role, and an additional police officer will be added to street patrols, according to a news release from the Village of Manhattan.

“We are happy to continue our strong and close-working relationship with the Village of Manhattan and the Manhattan Police Department in order to provide for the safety of our students and our community,” said Manhattan SD 114 Superintendent Russ Ragon. “We look forward to having an officer in our buildings next year to help not only with safety and security but also with educating our students on what a valuable resource our officers are for our community.”

The SRO will work with school staff to develop protocols and a plan of action for keeping students and staff safe. Ragon is working with Wold and Manhattan Mayor Mike Adrieansen to implement the program, according to the release.

“I want to thank the Village Board for taking the lead in keeping our community and schools safe in what is becoming an alarming trend of violence in our country,” Adrieansen said. “Since taking office in 2021, the Village Board has approved a new K9 unit, added Flock Cameras, hired more police and approved a self-defense class for women. We will continue to do what is necessary to keep our residents safe.”