Llodra: 'No Gap in Service' for School Security

In the first months after the Dec. 14 shooting, some Newtown parents were vocal in asking town, police and education officials to ensure their children would be protected by rigorous security at all Newtown schools.

Now officials, meeting over the course of the summer, say they have a plan in place to keep school security at all Newtown schools for the short and long term. First Selectman Pat Llodra says she has met with Superintendent John Reed and Police Chief Michael Kehoe to decide what Newtown's school security will look like in September.

Llodra addresses the issue in a blog post this week on the town's recovery site, OneNewtown.org:

"In the short-term, Newtown police will be assigned to the elementary schools (and as a back-up to the juvenile officer at Reed) from overtime. We will use funds from that budget account to compensate officers for the additional duty.  There will be NO gap in service. This overtime approach will remain in place until we are able to implement the mid-term plan."

The 2013-14 town and education budgets both include funds for additional school security -- both SROs and unarmed security guards. Llodra says the "mid-term plan" will place SROs (or new hires) at the town's three elementary schools -- one paid for by the municipal budget, two hopefully covered by the federal grant the town is still pursuing.

"We do not know yet the status of our application to fund school resource officers through the grant," Llodra wrote. "We are hoping to know that answer by September."

In March, Llodra proposed five options for school security. She cites one in her blog post, which would create a "school safety officer," whose job would focus solely on monitoring schools and who would not serve alongside other officers on routine patrols.

"This role is just being developed in two other Connecticut communities, and the certification process is being developed through the State Police," says Llodra. "Recently retired police officers are eligible for the school safety officer (SSO) positions. The roles, responsibilities, and scope of authority of an SSO are being developed and are expected to be released sometime soon."

In March, Kehoe said he would view a school security officer as a "unique position."

"Maybe for a retired officer who is certified and willing to be re-certified every three years," he said. "We have to kind of craft this so they understand the responsibilities are specific to this program.

Security has also covered Newtown students at summer programs. In June, the Legislative Council approved funds for security guards at park entrances during programs, on the recommendation of Sgt. Aaron Bhamonde and Fire Marshal Bill Halstead.