Parsippany Lieutenant To Become Full-Time Director Of School Security

PARSIPPANY, N.J. – In trying to achieve the safest school environment possible, the Parsippany Police Department and Parsippany-Troy Hills School District have joined to create a Director of School Security position, which will be filled by Lt. Brian Dowd.

In a statement released by Mayor James Barberio Wednesday, it was announced the full-time position had been created to provide additional, experienced support in the schools.

In addition to Dowd, two patrol officers will become School Resource Officers in each of the Middle Schools in town. Those officers, Barberio said, have been specially trained and will be participants in the elementary school as well. A juvenile counselor has been added to the program to assist with family and juvenile matters as well, Barberio said.

Dowd will be available to the district 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will supervise the School Resource Officers and any other security personnel in the district.

All members of the security team will have the responsibilities of investigations, assisting with bullying and harassment prevention, cyber-bullying, conflict resolution, mentoring, assisting students and families, education in the areas of drug abuse and social media, and other issues.

“Our number one priority is our children,” Barberio said. “We are taking steps to maximize school safety and security by engaging in our shared services agreement with the Board of Education. Parsippany is at the forefront and I take great pride in being the first such shared services agreement of this magnitude in the State. I also want to thank Dr. Leroy Seitz for his vision and support with this project. This could not have been accomplished without the cooperation of Council President, Dr. Louis Valori and Council members, Michael DePierro, Loretta Gragnani and Paul Carifi.”