News

Lewiston school committee member proposes reducing the number of school resource officers

Lewiston school committee member proposes reducing the number of school resource officers

Photo: clipart.com


A member of Lewiston’s school committee is putting forth a proposal to end the DARE program and reduce the number of school resource officers.

The Sun Journal reports that committee member Kiernan Majerus-Collins expects to offer the proposal for a vote on July 13th.

It would reduce the number of SROs at local schools from four to three, and use the funding for a fourth officer to bring in a restorative justice coordinator. Such coordinators usually arrange meetings between offenders and their victims, sometimes bringing in other community members as well.

The proposal would also prohibit the permanent presence of police in elementary schools.

Majerus-Collins says he also wants the school to eliminate the DARE program, calling it “ineffective and outdated.”

Lewiston High School principal Jake Langlais supports the presence of SROs, saying they’re valuable resources and have a positive impact on the community overall.

Latest Headlines

3 hours ago in Local

Silver Alert Issued for Hancock County Woman

Hancock County deputies say Alison Macleod suffers from cognitive issues.

11 hours ago in Local

Otisfield Man Charged After Woman Shot in Hand

Oxford County deputies say they were called to a report of a person who had been shot.

11 hours ago in Local

Owl Rescued on Lake West of Augusta

Officers say they found the barred owl along Annabessacook Lake Saturday morning.

1 day ago in Local

Police Looking for Missing Washington County Teen

The Washington County Sheriff's Office are looking for 16-year-old Lilyanna Rose Cook, who was last seen in Roque Bluffs, Maine.

2 days ago in Local

Struck-down Maine citizen’s referendum on super PAC donations heads to appeals court

Despite getting over 75% of the vote, a Portland judge deemed the referendum unconstitutional this past summer, citing the ruling made by the Supreme Court on the 2010 Citizen's United case.