(Atlantic) The Atlantic Police Department has postponed the goal of appointing a School Resource Officer until the 2025-2026 school year.
The Atlantic Police Department (APD) posted a statement on their Facebook page on Monday, explaining, “Although we aimed to fill the School Resource Officer position by the time students returned from the holiday break, we have decided to recalibrate our goal for the 2025-2026 school year. Finding the right person for this specific role is crucial, and doing so during the school year presents challenges for potential candidates.”
The APD stated that they will continue collaborating with the Atlantic Community School District to prepare for filling this position and will maintain their fundraising efforts to ensure that equipment is ready when the time comes.
The APD expressed gratitude to the community for supporting this position and remains optimistic about finding the right fit soon.
Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue and the School District applied for and received approval for a Department of Justice COPS grant to launch the program. This grant, valued at $125,000, will be distributed over three years.