School Cop May Mean New Cop on Streets

WILDWOOD — For students returning to the city schools this September, it will be business as usual – reading, writing, arithmetic, and a school resource officer.
At the Wildwood Commissioners’ meeting on Aug. 10, Commissioner Anthony Leonetti told the board that the Wildwood School District had approached the city with the idea of reinstating a full-time policeman in the district. The $60,000 cost of having the officer in the building would be borne by the district.
“They will pay for a full-time policeman,” said Leonetti.
With a 180-day school year, as opposed to a calendar year, the district will prorate their contribution to reflect the actual amount of time the officer spends in the building. In addition to salary costs, the officer’s benefits are included in the amount being paid by the district.
“We’re going to pay half,” said Wildwood School Business Administrator Greg Rohrman. “Half the benefits and half the cost.” According to Rohrman the officer will be available to the city in the summer and if, during the school year, an event in the city requires the need for the officer.
Rohrman told the Herald that the school district has had an officer in the schools for quite some time. “We’ve done this for years,” he said. “It goes back to at least 2005.”
According to Rohrman, “The officer we’ve had is Officer Yuhas. He was our school officer for several years and he is excellent.”
Last year, however, Yuhas’ time in the school building was limited due to financial constraints. “We didn’t lose him completely,” said Rohrman, “We were only paying $10,000, so he was here a very limited basis.”
Other than having the benefit of an officer in the school to deal with incidents as they occur throughout the day, his presence in the building may help with staving off incidents as they develop.
“He keeps his ear to the ground,” said Rohrman. “From a policing point of view, it’s a good deal.”
With the district paying $60,000 of a senior officer’s salary, the city will be able to bring a first year officer onto the force at a salary of $25,000.
“This will enable me to hire a new officer,” said Leonetti. According to the commissioner a newly hired officer who is single with no dependents will cost the city approximately $45,000 after factoring in salary and benefits.
“I think it’s a great thing to have an officer in the school,” said Leonetti. “They can dissipate situations before they happen.”
“Having a cop over there (the school) full time is a waste of time,” city resident Rich Basara told the Commissioners. Basara, a retired police officer, currently substitute teaches. “The teachers end up depending on the cop instead of doing what they’re supposed to do. They need to get some teeth themselves to do what they’re supposed to be doing.”
Basara expressed his concern that the school resource officer be available to go back on the streets of the city if a situation arises. “Will you be pulling the cop when you need him?” he asked.
“Yes,” replied Leonetti. “That will be in writing.”
“The school district has approved the concept,” said Rohrman, “but not the actual costs yes, since we don’t know them.”
“But everyone gains from this,” he added.