Columbia Heights PD reassigns SRO’s

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Columbia Heights
Starting Tuesday, Sept. 5, Columbia Heights Police Department’s two SRO’s will be temporarily reassigned and will not be working as school resource officers for the Columbia Heights School District.

Columbia Heights Police Chief Lenny Austin told the City Council at its Aug. 28 meeting that the department plans to evaluate additional information from the League of Minnesota Cities about the new law on physical restraint, that was passed last session by the legislature as part of the massive Education Policy Omnibus Bill, before making a final decision.

Austin said that once the Columbia Heights Police Department’s makes a decision they would then present the recommendation in front of the City Council.

Austin said a temporary reassignment is allowed under the current contract with the Columbia Heights School District.

“... We won’t have any officers serving in the SRO assignment,” Austin said. “The police department will also be unable to provide contract services to the school district for events such as football games that will be coming up in the next couple of weeks.

“We will continue to collaborate with school district on public safety issues and we will continue to work on the challenges associated with this operational change.”

Mayor Amáda Márquez Simula praised Austin and the police department for being transparent with their decisions and bring it forwarded to the council.

“This isn’t something that went through the council,” Márquez Simula said, making a clarification to the public. “This is something the department is deciding on what would work best for the department.”

“I’m very grateful for the effort the chief has put into this issue and I don’t think any of our officers should be put in a position where they can’t effectively do their job so I’m happy to support the decision,” added Council Member KT Jacobs.

Austin said a recommendation should be coming in front of the City Council in a couple of weeks and then it can be voted on during an upcoming meeting.

One of the Columbia Heights Police Department SROs served at Columbia Heights High School and provided support as needed at the neighboring Highland Elementary School. The other officer was primarily stationed at the Columbia Academy while also providing support as needed at the neighboring Valley View Elementary School. Additionally, both SROs are trained as DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) officers for all elementary schools within the Columbia Heights School District.