An agreement between the city and the school district is in the works to provide the Norwich Middle and High Schools with a school resource officer (SRO). Pictured is former NPD Officer Ryan Legacy, Sergeant Matthew Roberts, Chief Rodney Marsh, and Officer Tyler Dexheimer. (Photo by Sarah Genter)

NORWICH — During the joint committees meeting on Tuesday, December 7, City of Norwich Police Department Chief Rodney Marsh informed council members of the need for a school resource officer (SRO) at the Norwich High and Middle Schools.

"A couple weeks ago the Superintendent of Norwich Schools reached out to me and said he was considering a school resource officer," said Marsh. "He asked if we could maybe do something like a hybrid in the meantime, until he really decides whether he really wants to have it, a full-time school resource officer."

Marsh explained that Superintendent Scott Ryan floated the idea for the schools to have a temporary, part-time officer, or a school safety officer, who would come to the schools for two and a half hours a day, Monday through Friday.

"He brought up an idea of a school safety officer that would be at the school for about two and a half hours a day, Monday through Friday. And I thought maybe that's something that I could make work with our current staffing level," said Marsh. "This officer, if we were able to do it, would be pulled from a shift, it would be certainly on day shift, and those two and a half hours would go to the school every day. And the rest of the time he would be on patrol."