Poudre School District Votes To Keep SRO Officers in Fort Collins Schools

Law enforcement will remain staffed in the halls of Fort Collins schools.

The Poudre School District School (PSD) voted 6-1 to extend the contract for School Resource Officers (SRO) program another year during a virtual meeting on Tuesday (June 23).

The school board plans to make adjustments to the SRO role while also closely monitoring the program during the year.

Since 1995, PSD has worked with Fort Collins Police Services (FCPS) and the Larimer County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) to implement the SRO Program in its high schools and middle schools.

In 2019, the Timnath Police Department (TPD) joined the SRO Program through Timnath and Bethke elementary schools.

Dozens of people called into the virtual meeting to weigh in ⁠— with many people voicing support both for and against renewing the contract of the SRO program.

PSD initially had delayed the SRO vote from June 9 to gather more information and feedback.

In April of 2021, PSD staff will summarize their observations for the Board of Education, who will then again review the SRO Program.

Other school districts around the country have removed police officers following George Floyd's Death in Minneapolis.

According to CBS News, the board for Denver Public Schools (DPS) unanimously decided to remove all police officers from its schools on June 12. Minneapolis also voted to remove officers from its schools.